Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer, but remanded the issues of secondary service connection for depression, anxiety and insomnia; hypertension; enlarged prostate; and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his physical limitations and combined disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2020 VA examination. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 13, 2000, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is denied. The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was granted on January 26, 2011.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 100% throughout the period on appeal, and he is granted SMC based on housebound status effective March 27, 2015. The TDIU claim is moot as his MDD alone meets the criteria for a 100% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information about the Veteran's service dates and inconsistencies in his medical records. The VA examiner will need to provide an updated opinion on whether any acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder, had its onset in and/or is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder (PTSD with MDD). The evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether PTSD with MDD caused or aggravated obesity, which led to OSA.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective February 26, 2018. The lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and spinal stenosis is granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective August 10, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability alone rendered him unable to sustain substantially gainful employment from August 10, 2018 and he also had additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more. The Board granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound effective August 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, and the claim for Depression is remanded due to insufficient examination.

Effective July 1, 2016, and no earlier, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD is rated at 100 percent. Effective October 30, 2020, she also receives a 100 percent rating for her PTSD with MDD and SMC based on the statutory housebound criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from being able to prepare for, obtain, or maintain suitable employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The Board denied the Veteran's request for VR&E benefits as he did not meet the criteria for an employment handicap.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional errors and insufficient medical opinions, requiring further development of the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional errors and insufficient medical opinions, requiring further development of the record.

The Veteran's initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was also denied due to lack of evidence showing impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for headaches is granted, but the claims for a higher rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition of unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression effective May 31, 2017. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted after the original denial in January 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression effective May 31, 2017. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted after the original denial in January 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for their acquired psychiatric disorder as it is already on appeal under another system (AMA).