Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability and fibromyalgia, but granted TDIU due to the psychiatric disability. The left knee and thoracic spine issues were remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected. The claims for unspecified depressive disorder, PTSD, lumbosacral strain, sciatica (secondary to lumbosacral strain), and hiatal hernia are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD with MDD, insomnia disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 for migraines or under the General Formula for Mental Disorders for his PTSD.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is related to his service-connected back and feet disabilities, which caused chronic pain that aggravated his depression.

The Board denied an effective date prior to March 11, 2020 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with mild depressive and anxiety disorder due to a lack of evidence showing entitlement arose before that date.

The Board granted restoration of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a psychiatric condition and TDIU prior to October 24, 2022 due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition. The AOJ is required to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include MDD, AUD, and PTSD due to MST for a new VA examination and stressor verification.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric disorder (MDD with alcohol dependence without physiological dependence sustained full remission) and foot condition (bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes cavus). The claims are not related to toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depressive disorder are remanded due to the failure to obtain VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including pain associated with those conditions. After considering all evidence and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran, the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and PTSD due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty training.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to November 20, 2017 and from November 20, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50% or 70% respectively.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, and the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for a depressive disorder with anxious distress, secondary to Parkinson's disease was denied as the symptoms overlap and are not sufficiently distinguishable to warrant a separate 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression with alcoholism and prostate cancer as due to in-service sexually transmitted disease. A new VA examination is required to provide a comprehensive opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for recurrent moderate major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae residual anterior neck scars, and right eye corneal scars.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder prior to January 24, 2022.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent, but no higher, for unspecified depressive disorder and a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the service-connected condition. The Veteran was also granted special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate.