Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are adequately contemplated by the current 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud's disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will readjudicate these claims, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder. The issues of secondary service connection are also being addressed.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder; a vision disorder; and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating due to lack of evidence indicating unemployability prior to February 10, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination and notification regarding in-service personal assault stressors. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, is being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for ED secondary to depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeal was received in response to the February 2020 Statement of the Case, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 30, 2019, for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD with depression and TBI residuals. The decision found that worsening in disability was factually ascertainable within one year prior to the date of receipt of his January 9, 2020 claim.

The Board has found duty to assist errors in the claims for service connection of psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatica, and left lower extremity sciatica. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient examination report, requiring further evaluation of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee condition, and a left hip condition. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that her current psychiatric conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the establishment of a diagnosed in-service stressor and the relationship between his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, and service. The VA must provide an examination or opinion from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist addressing these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective October 1, 2013. The Board has granted a higher rating to 100 percent.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for depression was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied prior to March 18, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating than 30 percent, and he did not have sufficient service-connected disabilities to qualify for a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service onset or relationship to service.