Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease and depression do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to their combined effect, as they do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is granted as secondary to her service in Iraq.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU from June 30, 2012 to January 5, 2016. The Board finds that the August 2012 rating decision is not final and remands for adjudication of his claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, are granted as incurred in service and caused by in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim as his discharge from service was under conditions other than honorable due to drug use, and there is no evidence of insanity at the time of the offense. The character of his discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was granted, effective January 31, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected conditions, including depressive disorder and foot disabilities, render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted.,The claim for service connection for headaches secondary to rhinitis and nose surgery residuals remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder. The case is also remanded to consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, degenerative joint disease, herniated nucleus pulposus, unspecified depressive disorder, cervical radiculopathies, and metatarsophalangeal joint fusion, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's OSA is rated at 50% since October 1, 2019. The PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

An earlier effective date of July 12, 2020, is granted for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression, anxiety, and mood disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the symptoms did not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have been rated at 70 percent since September 19, 2003. The rating for PTSD remains in effect from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for an adequate examination.

The appeal challenging the reduction in rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with somatic symptom disorder from 70 percent to 30 percent is granted, and a restoration of a 70 percent rating is granted. The appeal seeking service connection for PTSD under the AMA appeals system is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected specified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to lack of evidence showing a prior claim or entitlement before March 17, 2015.