Depression Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI residuals, seizures, psychiatric conditions, vertigo, sleep disorders, and neurological issues in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, but not higher.

The Board denied an effective date prior to March 30, 2023, for the award of service connection for PTSD and a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder.

The appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety, and insomnia. However, TDIU from November 8, 2017, was granted.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 70 percent to 30 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was dismissed because it was not a final decision.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, recurrent with anxious distress, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervicothoracic pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of both upper extremities, lumbar spine disability, PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism, but remanded claims for sleep apnea and an increased rating for hypothyroidism.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress as due to the Veteran's service-connected left hip labral tear with strain and trochanteric pain syndrome, but denied service connection for thoracic spine scoliosis, bilateral hallux valgus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left knee strain with patellar tendinitis, and left shoulder strain.

The Board granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, restored the 20 percent rating for left knee instability, restored the 10 percent rating for right knee instability, and denied an earlier effective date and a higher rating for anxiety.

The Board restored service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, granted a 70 percent rating for the condition, and also granted service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected right index finger disability and denied service connection for bilateral knee strain and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or a more favorable effective date.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including obtaining additional private treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for major depressive disorder to obtain a supplemental medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's reported symptoms during and after service.

The Board granted service connection for upper body rash and remanded the claim for depression due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased ratings, and service connection, finding no evidence of a claim or appeal prior to April 11, 2019.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for TBI with vertigo and PTSD, depressive disorder mild neurocognitive impairment, and alcohol use disorder moderate.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder with anxious distress and denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, which is already included in the rating for his service-connected depressive disorder.