Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for insomnia disorder and sleep apnea has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his attorney representative.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher rating. The case is remanded to determine if service connection for obstructive sleep apnea can be granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for any psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to a need to verify in-service stressors.

The appeal is dismissed as the May 2024 rating decision did not address the issue of service connection for depression and PTSD, but deferred adjudication due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for Major Depressive Disorder, as well as his eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), is granted effective October 31, 2013. The award of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is denied due to lack of additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60% disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for hypertension, GERD, OSA, a respiratory/lung disorder, and RLS.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to July 21, 2022, for the re-establishment of a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, tobacco related use disorder and opioid related use disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with panic attacks is being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination. The Board requests that VA make efforts to obtain missing military records, including those from the TDY assignment in Jordan and a separation examination at the end of his service. A new VA psychiatric examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's condition was incurred during service or related to an undiagnosed disorder during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression, is etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied in May 2019. The Board has now granted revision of the May 2019 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and has also granted an effective date of January 23, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST). The other conditions are not connected to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 12, 2013. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were found to have started during his active service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from October 8, 2014, to November 30, 2014, and from June 20, 2015, to October 31, 2015. The rating remains unchanged for the rest of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because she does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and her symptoms are better characterized as persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 19, 2013 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim was originally filed on that date and he did not receive notice of a prior denial in February 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was granted an effective date of October 20, 2021, for a 70% disability rating.