Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative changes, including obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression is granted. The claims for left ear hearing loss and right foot disorder are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective March 20, 2019, as her service-connected psychiatric disability, right hip disability, and migraine headaches rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, GAD, panic disorder, and unspecified trauma related disorder, based on the Veteran's in-service traumatic events at Guantanamo Bay.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a persistent depressive disorder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected prostate and bladder cancer.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability due to it being moot. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder was granted with a 50% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 23, 2014, to December 9, 2020.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and TBI residuals are rated at 70 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The effective date for the increased rating is October 21, 2013.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for major depressive disorder but denied service connection for a left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service-connected.,Left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,Tinnitus remains at the maximum 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU. The Board has identified several records that are not in the claims file, including SSA records and VA treatment records from VistA Imaging system. These records may be relevant to the instant appeals.

The Veteran's appeal of an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder has been dismissed due to her withdrawal request. Her secondary service connection claim for GERD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the claims for service connection for anxiety and depression. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction and acquired psychiatric disability (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) have been granted, along with special monthly compensation for the loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for an initial schedular rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and MDD, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected genital herpes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is found to have begun during his military service and is related thereto. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining proper authorizations for private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's wrist disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ruptured eardrum, back disability, right knee disability, gout and/or pseudogout/CPPD, left foot disability, osteophytosis of the thumb/metacarpal surgery, wrist disability, eye/vision disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA treatment records from January 2023 need to be obtained and associated with the claim file.