Depression Board decisions

The Board granted an increased disability evaluation to 100 percent for the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and secondary alcohol use disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder, effective July 31, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for depression to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically rescheduling a VA examination that was cancelled due to a 'No Show' without evidence of adequate notification.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with mood swings, as well as erectile dysfunction secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. However, it denied a higher initial rating for migraines including migraine variants.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is dismissed as the issue was completely resolved in a prior rating decision.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 22, 2021 for the award of a 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability but denied earlier effective dates for back and neck disabilities.

The appeal was dismissed due to a finding of a duty to assist error related to the claim for service connection for depression, and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for service-connected TBI with PTSD, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and BPPV from 100 percent to zero percent was proper due to the Veteran's failure to report for necessary examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, a painful scar associated with a hernia disability, right foot pain of the 5th toe, an unspecified lesion, to include as secondary to right foot pain of the 5th toe, a left foot disability, tinnitus, and (residual(s) of) an upper respiratory infection.

The Board denied an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from May 28, 2024, is granted.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and ensuring compliance with duty-to-assist requirements.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and sleep disorder. The neck condition was remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, but remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for any mental condition due to new and relevant evidence being received.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, to include mood disorder with depression. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities and sleep apnea were readjudicated based on new evidence, while the claim for back disability was not supported by new evidence.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress, opioid use disorder, and alcohol use disorder was granted an evaluation of 70 percent from February 9, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, as there was no evidence of a mental health complaint or diagnosis during military service and the current condition is less likely than not related to active service.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and moderate alcohol use disorder, finding that these conditions are reasonably shown to be caused by the Veteran's service.