Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint and disc disease of the low back, left knee osteochondroma, right knee degenerative joint disease, hypertension, folliculitis, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, hearing loss, eczema, anxiety, and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is related to her service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder in remission, are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the left elbow disability due to painful motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Unspecified Depressive Disorder, and Insomnia Disorder. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and dysthymia due to insufficient evidence in the original decision. The Veteran's lay statements and a private examination opinion are considered, but an addendum opinion is required from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent, effective from March 13, 2019. A special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate (MDD) and remanded the claims for homonymous hemianopsia with glaucoma suspect, bilateral eyes and allergic rhinitis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain a medical opinion that is sufficient to make an informed decision on the claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder present, including PTSD. The Veteran's previous diagnoses need to be reviewed and evaluated.

The Board granted an effective date of February 26, 2015, for the award of service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 3, 2014, as the evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on her service-connected conditions including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee strain, left knee strain, right leg sciatic radiculopathy associated with thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and left leg sciatic radiculopathy associated with thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and insomnia disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% evaluation effective from February 6, 2017.

The Board dismissed the claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder NOS from January 21, 2014 as it was a purely ministerial implementation of the previous Board decision.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for major depressive disorder, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service. The decision is based on an adequate VA examination conducted outside of the period considered by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disability and entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to assess his current symptoms and manifestations of any psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD.