Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) and impotence.

The Board denied service connection for paranoia with depression as there is no credible evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, with obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder and chronic depression was manifested by symptomatology that more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment for the period from June 28, 2008, to July 10, 2016. For the period from July 11, 2016, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, with obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder and chronic depression was manifested by symptomatology resulting in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, cervical strain (claimed as cervical spine condition), lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, endometriosis, female sexual arousal disorder, and urinary frequency. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by medical evidence linking them to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the PACT Act requiring a TERA-specific examination and secondary service connection evaluations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The remaining conditions (headaches, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, tremors of the right upper extremity, tremors of the left upper extremity, anxiety disorder, and depression) were denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 23, 2015, for the award of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, STD residuals, a left knee disability, and a respiratory disability have been dismissed. The Board found no error in the determination of these decisions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD and service connection for hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was granted, and he is now eligible for a 70% rating effective July 12, 2024. His Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were also granted as of that date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected major depressive disorder and/or hyperthyroidism aggravated her sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is causally related to active service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU is granted. The evaluation for lumbar strain remains remanded due to the need for an updated examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied, but he is granted service connection for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders secondary to his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 13, 2017 is dismissed as moot because he was already receiving a 100% disability rating for his PTSD with depression disorder.

The Veteran is now entitled to an effective date of August 31, 2011, for his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 7, 2020, for the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder is granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as VA did not assist in developing this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent evaluation from March 31, 2011. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 4, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's PDD with anxious distress is rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent has been denied.