Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is rated at 50 percent, which the Board finds insufficient to warrant a higher rating. The lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with status post lumbar spondylolisthesis with surgical fusion of L5-S1 is also rated at 50 percent and similarly does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for scars of the right forehead, left lateral eye, and right upper lip. The acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head injury, headaches, bilateral eye disability, and low back disorder are all denied.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, cocaine use disorder, and alcohol use disorder based on the Veteran's in-service personal assaults.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining addendum opinions from clinicians who have not previously examined the Veteran or provided an opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and migraines were denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD with a rating of 50 percent, effective February 21, 2019. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder has been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his service and the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for service-connected PTSD and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is denied.,The Veteran was found to be unable to work due to his service-connected PTSD as of May 21, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, PTSD, and memory loss was denied. The effective date remains at the current date of December 9, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, migraines, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, are found to be so severe that she is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for mood disorder/unspecified depressive disorder, but the Board denied this request as there is no evidence of increased disability prior to May 4, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS or the current 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and somatoform disorder are granted as service connected. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and incorrect service connection standards. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and appropriate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been granted. The awards of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and migraine headaches are effective September 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to her active service. The Veteran was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression during service.