Depression Board decisions

Your appeal for service connection on anxiety, depression, and insomnia has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board denied service connection for depression and restored the rating for right clavicle fracture, but did not grant a higher rating.

The Veteran became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain, on June 19, 2019. The effective date for the award of Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted as of that date.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of depressive disorder, which was granted in February 2021 with a November 26, 2019, effective date. The AOJ denied the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) regarding this effective date. The Board has remanded the case to allow the AOJ to address the CUE contention.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression, PTSD, and insomnia), a back disability, and a right shoulder disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not currently demonstrate an actual need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional private medical records related to his treatment for anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, heart disability, residuals of head and face injury, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), chronic stomach disability, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on all service-connected disabilities from October 21, 2022. The claim for a TDIU prior to this date is moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors for his PTSD claim and the need to obtain additional private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected persistent depressive disorder was granted, with an initial rating of 70 percent effective November 7, 2022. The appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to March 31, 2023 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polycythemia vera, adjudicated as 'adult leukemia,' is granted. The claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and a left knee disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with chronic depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of his disability and to obtain relevant employment information for a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for fibromyalgia and depressive disorder with insomnia prior to September 11, 2020, is denied. The current ratings of 40 percent for fibromyalgia and 70 percent thereafter for depressive disorder with insomnia are found to be appropriate based on the evidence.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for Major Depressive Disorder with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment due to persistent suicidal ideation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated for their impact on his ability to care for himself.

The Veteran's PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder are service-connected.,Diverticulitis is also service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is granted, but the case is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.