Depression Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, partial hemianopia, stroke, vascular issues of both lower extremities, and depression due to potential exposure to contaminated waters at Camp Lejeune. The VA must obtain medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and sleep disorder with sleep pattern disturbance, has been granted due to the submission of new VA treatment records that show a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a 100% rating effective February 18, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether service-connected conditions caused obesity and contributed to the development of sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The new evidence submitted did not relate to the issue of service connection and thus, it is not relevant.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100% and the effective date for SMC based on need for aid and attendance has been set to July 9, 2022.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain and persistent depressive disorder were partially granted, with a 40 percent rating for the back condition prior to July 21, 2025. The claim for an increase in rating for the depression was denied. The case is remanded due to the Veteran raising the issue of entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than April 1, 2013 for left and right sciatic radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran did not continuously pursue these issues.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU, DEA eligibility based on permanent and total disability status, a compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear, and an increased rating for major depressive disorder have all been denied. The effective dates for these decisions are not applicable as they were made after the relevant look-back periods.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depression is remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and need for a new evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression and traumatic brain injury is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the July 2020 decision. The rating for headaches secondary to PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and sleep apnea were dismissed due to procedural errors. Service connection was granted for MDD, urinary incontinence, and pelvic adhesions with an increased rating of 10% effective July 2, 2024.,Pelvic adhesions are rated under Diagnostic Code 7629 as they cause significant functional impairment due to pain and irregular bleeding that requires continuous treatment.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mental health conditions and hearing loss, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, moderate, with moderate-severe anxious distress symptom pattern is rated at 70 percent and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.