Depression Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus caused or aggravated his major depressive disorder with anxiety.

The Board granted a restoration of the 20% rating for lumbar spine disability, an initial 40% rating since June 30, 2021, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for various service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and musculoskeletal issues, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for her Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) from March 20, 2017, to September 20, 2020, and a TDIU from the same date forward.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic arthritis, thoracolumbar spine, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD from January 21, 2010 to August 6, 2020 and granted an effective date of May 21, 2015 but no earlier for the grant of TDIU.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of depressive disorder, TDIU, and DEA, as well as a higher rating for the depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for readjudication of his claim for service connection for depressive disorder, finding that new and relevant evidence had not been submitted since the last final denial in February 2022.

The Board granted service connection for major depression disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were incurred during his active service.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder and a TDIU from January 31, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability, tinnitus, and increased ratings for major depressive disorder, basal cell carcinoma residuals, and forehead scar.

The Board granted restoration of a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with inhalant use disorder and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, while dismissing the appeal for recurrent high blood pressure as untimely appealed and denying service connection for vitamin B12 deficiency and PTSD.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD and remanded claims for service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, and varicocele, right testicle.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for eligibility to the direct payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in a May 2022 rating decision.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to March 9, 2023, and denied a higher rating as of that date. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left lower nerve pain, right lower nerve pain, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus.

The appeal for service connection for a depressive disorder was dismissed as untimely, while the appeal for sleep apnea is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal of the issues related to increased disability evaluations for various conditions, including peripheral vestibular disease, anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and insomnia disorder, left ear hearing loss, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right ankle disability for readjudication as new and relevant evidence has been received.