Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran submitted his disagreement more than one year after the February 2024 decision.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for hypothyroidism is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating reduction from 70 percent to 30 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to scheduling of a hearing.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to have its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's depressive disorder prior to August 30, 2024 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder, late onset, with intermittent major depressive episodes and other specified trauma and stress related disorder was granted effective January 26, 2022.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to any in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring the Veteran to complete an Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability and obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to May 1, 2023, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The Board finds that efforts should be made to find any possible missing records and correspondence regarding the 1981 claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a right foot disability. However, these issues are being remanded due to new evidence submitted after the November 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the March 2021 decision on appeal.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms are related to an in-service incident and resolved all doubts in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxious features and major depressive disorder prevented her from securing or following substantially gainful employment as of May 8, 2020. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set to this date.

An effective date of March 6, 2018, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted.,The appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder with other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was denied in January 2017. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at February 27, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of depressive disorder and erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted, with a finding that it was related to service exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied due to his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for service connection of major depression disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder, and avoidant personality disorder was denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date is February 25, 2020, as this is when the Veteran filed his intent to file a claim.