Depression Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD, which has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia, finding no evidence of a causal link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need to adjudicate secondary service connection for ankle disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to ensure all VA treatment records have been associated with the claims file, and then to adjudicate the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorders were not diagnosed or service-connected.

The Veteran's depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with depressive features and generalized anxiety disorder are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II, secondary to asthma with pulmonary sarcoidosis, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder did not pre-exist service and is not related to active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back pain and major depression cause him to require the regular aid and attendance of another for activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, traveling, and managing medication.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the initial decision. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was evaluated at a 50 percent rating prior to January 5, 2022 and denied an evaluation higher than that.,From January 5, 2022 onwards, the Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent and remains denied for an increased evaluation.

An effective date of September 26, 2019 for a 100% rating for hepatitis C is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, including major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is being remanded due to an error in the previous VA opinion.,An effective date earlier than May 3, 2019, for the grant of service connection for PFB and major depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back spasms, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as a combination of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, was initially granted in February 2020 with a 30% rating. In January 2019, the disability manifested such that it caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, leading to a higher 70% rating from then on.

The Board has found that the Veteran may have more than one acquired psychiatric disorder and is remanding for a new medical opinion to determine which, if any, are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, is due to his active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was denied multiple times, including in June 2014. The most recent petition to reopen the claim was received on October 26, 2020, and the effective date of service connection was granted as of that date.