Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was capable of performing some jobs despite his disability.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance at the rate provided by 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(1), due to his service-connected stable angina, persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, and Alzheimer's disease associated with diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding the service connection claims for adjustment disorder, causalgia, and a gynecological disability. The rating for adjustment disorder remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist disability and depressive disorder, finding that these conditions began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA will conduct a mental health examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and whether these conditions are related to his military service. For the tinnitus claim, the VA will schedule an audiometric evaluation to assess noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied in the April 2017, December 2017, and April 2021 rating decisions. The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file his appeal requests.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for her service connection decisions, finding that she did not meet the one-year deadline to perfect her claims and failed to provide good cause for missing this deadline.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since December 21, 2011, to January 16, 2025. The rating is granted subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety) was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder is not productive of total occupational and social impairment, so a rating in excess of 70 percent for this condition is denied. The matter of entitlement to TDIU has been raised by the evidence of record and requires further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes, right ankle tendonitis, and depressive disorder have been granted with effective dates of May 15, 2021. The rating assigned is 10% for right ankle tendonitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to extend his delimiting date for Chapter 33 education benefits, finding that he did not provide sufficient evidence of a physical or mental disability preventing him from initiating a program of education within one year of his May 2020 extension request.

The appeal regarding earlier effective dates for IBS and IVDS is dismissed.,The reduction in the rating for painful right toes scars is granted, restoring a 10 percent rating from May 3, 2023.,Increased ratings to 20 percent for lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as of October 21, 2024.,Service connection and increased ratings for left hip conditions, right hip conditions, left knee condition, ED, and depressive disorder are granted.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were awarded from January 30, 2009. The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for both awards as there was no service-connected disability prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with moderate anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are at least as likely as not related to her military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, lumbosacral strain, plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, nasal disability, and pulmonary disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring VA to obtain medical examinations and opinions regarding his psychiatric disorders, prostate condition, and erectile dysfunction.