Depression Board decisions

The Board granted disability ratings of 70 percent, 30 percent, and 20 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) respectively, effective November 25, 2020. The ratings for other conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to verify stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The disability picture most nearly approximates the current assigned rating.

Your appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits, as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider additional evidence and re-evaluate the Veteran's employment handicap.

The Board denied service connection for a mood disorder because there is no current diagnosis of the condition, and any in-service depressive episode has resolved.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was denied as the evidence did not show continuous pursuit of his claims.

The appeal to reduce the Veteran's PTSD with depression from a 100% rating to a 70% rating effective September 1, 2021 is dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's claim for PCAFC benefits was remanded due to inadequate notice and reasoning in the original decision. The Board found that the VA Caregiver evaluation assessment did not clearly address the Veteran's current conditions, particularly his neurocognitive disorders, pain, loss of use, weakness, dizziness, and vertigo, which affect his need for personal care services.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including eye disability or vision disability, hearing loss, bone cancer (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia), drug abuse, alcohol abuse, psychiatric disability (Anxiety and depression), attempted suicide, dry skin disability, stress, memory loss, low back disability, headaches, and sleep disturbances have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions were not related to service or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided are incomplete, and thus remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Depressive Disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 6, 2015, for a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that there had been an increase in severity during the one-year lookback period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from his community psychiatrist.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various conditions were dismissed as she did not file a timely VA Form 10182 within the allowed time frame.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased rating for major depressive disorder with mood-congruent psychotic features, including earlier effective date, has been dismissed as the claims have been granted in full.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service is not a bar to VA benefits, but the AOJ must obtain medical opinions regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct and whether he exhibited prolonged deviation or interference with society. The AOJ should also consider the recent change in law regarding consideration of an appellant's mental or cognitive impairment at the time of the in-service misconduct.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to May 27, 2011, due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck, back, and nerve conditions along with social anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.