Depression Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's TBI residuals cause a need for regular aid and attendance.

The appeal is remanded for additional development as there has not been substantial compliance with the June 2023 remand directives.

The Board granted readjudication of the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other specified trauma and stress-related disorder, based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as other benefits.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of a 100 percent rating for acquired psychiatric disability and DEA, as well as higher ratings for tinnitus and service connection for various conditions due to lack of evidence supporting such claims.

The Board granted an effective date of June 2, 2022, for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and intermittent major depressive episodes without current episode.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder with other specified depressive disorder, due to a need for additional evidence and medical opinion.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety and depression, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's mental health disorder.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and cocaine use disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and attention deficit disorder as they were granted in an earlier decision.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxiety prior to January 11, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted an initial increased disability evaluation to 100 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and recurrent major depressive disorder due to the Veteran's symptoms of total social and occupational impairment.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, due to the lack of a DSM-5 diagnosis.

The appeal for service connection for persistent depressive disorder, moderate, in partial remission was dismissed by the Veteran. The Board will remand the issue of service connection for bilateral plantar warts.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence does not support an effective date prior to August 19, 2013.

The Veteran was granted increased disability ratings for adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and insomnia from August 11, 2020 to July 28, 2021, and service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and bilateral shoulder tendinosis. Erectile dysfunction was denied.