Depression Board decisions

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, but remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and mild gastritis with reflux and grade A esophagitis.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 20, 2021, as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, due to a lack of evidence linking his current conditions to in-service events or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, recurrent due to the Veteran's persistent suicidal ideation and daily hallucinations, as well as his total social isolation.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension (under the PACT Act), erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy. The claims for depression, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied.

The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for arthritis was dismissed, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, was denied.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to December 3, 2018, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder as the Veteran continued his legacy appeal.

The appeal for an increased rating for a psychiatric disability is dismissed due to the severance of service connection.

The appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date, initial rating, and TDIU to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea, and increased the ratings for migraine headaches to 30 percent and major depressive disorder to 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of December 28, 2012, but no earlier.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was denied for chronic sinusitis, CFS, respiratory condition, traumatic brain injury, skin condition on the left big toe, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, stroke condition, migraine headaches, right knee strain, left knee strain, left shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral restless leg syndrome. An increased rating for left great toe scars was granted.

The Board granted service connection for back condition and major depressive disorder, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The Board also granted an initial rating of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression as they have already been granted.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as there was no evidence of incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury in service.