Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and depression are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's insomnia is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with major depressive-like episode, anxiety disorder due to chronic pain syndrome, and chronic pain syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of right lateral collateral ligament sprain with fibular fracture and residuals, and residuals of coccygeal fracture.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed.,The claims for service connection for migraines and a gynecological disorder, to include vaginitis, are readjudicated based on new evidence.

Your appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed because you withdrew your appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's notice of disagreement was not timely filed, and the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, since August 27, 2012, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms warranted a 70 percent disability rating throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and posttraumatic stress disorder, do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the AOJ's failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and also due to a lack of an examination for direct service connection. The Veteran will need further examinations and medical opinions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for the left eye condition is denied.,Service connection for depression and/or a mental condition (schizophrenia) is granted with a 100% rating effective October 23, 2018. The claim for service connection for depression and/or a mental condition is dismissed as there remains no case or controversy as to this issue.,Service connection for the right knee condition is denied.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and adjustment reaction with anxious mood, effective February 28, 2001. The decision also addressed an earlier effective date claim.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it found that service connection for depression and anxiety with alcohol and substance abuse disorder had been in effect for over 10 years, thus protected from being severed. The original grant of service connection was not based on fraud.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with mood disorder and atrial fibrillation was denied. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on the service-connected psychiatric disability alone, effective January 10, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for atrial fibrillation was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service stressors and his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection of unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD are remanded as the VA examination opinions were inadequate. Other claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and a duty to assist error. The issues include obesity, increased appetite, heat intolerance, arthritis, abdominal condition, nervous condition (including tremors and nervousness), hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety and insomnia), diabetes mellitus, heart condition (including tachycardia), and gynecological condition (including menstrual irregularities).

The Veteran's cause of death, multiple prescription drug overdose, is being remanded for further development due to the need for a retrospective opinion on whether it was proximately due or caused by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The finger injury claim was denied. Other service connection claims were also denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 4, 2020 for the award of service connection for PTSD with MDD, anxious distress, and cannabis use disorder. The Veteran's claim was continuously pursued since he submitted his initial claim in December 2020.