Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's ED is caused by his service-connected MDD, and the Board has granted service connection for ED as secondary to MDD.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement, migraine headaches, internal derangement of the right ankle, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain in the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, left knee meniscectomy residuals, and left knee instability was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at June 14, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for major depression and TDIU due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's depressive disorder began during or was otherwise caused by her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative, including a lay statement and a private medical opinion. The effective date of service connection for major depressive disorder is not being granted earlier than January 22, 2013.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to January 15, 2021, and 70 percent as of that date. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating in either period.

The Veteran's dizziness, syncope, and syncopal episodes disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD, anxiety, unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and cannabis use disorder, are found to have started during his active service and continue since. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are causally related to events during his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates as they were untimely filed more than one year after the July 2021 rating decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for an acquired psychiatric disability, insomnia, sleep apnea, migraines, GERD, and dizziness. The issues of allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, non-allergic rhinitis, IBS, and tension headaches have been granted. The rating for the unspecified depressive disorder is 50 percent, while the ratings for non-allergic rhinitis (presumptive), IBS (presumptive), and tension headaches are each 10 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD and depression, started in service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the evidence supports granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected conditions, but an additional VA examination is needed to address whether the condition is aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for depression, left foot cold injury residuals, right foot cold injury residuals, lower back condition, and neck condition as secondary to a low back condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The appeal for an effective date prior to September 7, 2016, for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's current level of occupational and social impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his unspecified depressive disorder prior to February 5, 2019 is granted. The Veteran was initially assigned a 30 percent rating with an effective date of September 21, 2016, which is the date in which his claim was received.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted effective September 3, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date as the submission of the September 3, 2019 VA Form 21-8940 did not constitute new and relevant evidence or show continuous pursuit of the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for the low back disability.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance was not due to her service-connected disabilities, but rather the effects of her non-service-connected terminal metastatic colon cancer. The Board denied the claim for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and MDD, which was dismissed by the Board.