Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective January 22, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder since November 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, asthma, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with PTSD and depression as contributing conditions. The Board found that the Veteran had service-connected PTSD related to his military service, which contributed to his suicide.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board is unable to make a determination on these issues without additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the initial decision and subsequent supplemental claim decisions. The VA examinations were inadequate, and further medical development is required.

The Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with persistent depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective June 28, 2016. The decision also addressed the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent and the Board has found that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected MDD with anxious distress caused or aggravated his OSA. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 13, 2016 for the award of service connection for PTSD with a 50% rating. The Veteran's claim was reopened and his previously denied claims were remanded multiple times before he was diagnosed with PTSD in May 2020.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was granted in a July 2021 rating decision, but the effective date is denied as it cannot be earlier than February 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD with recurrent, moderate MDD with anxious distress is denied as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment prior to January 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as the cases are moot due to prior grants of benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU. The Board has remanded the matter to the VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 100% disability rating from May 30, 2015.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 28, 2019 for a 70 percent disability evaluation for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder (previously evaluated as unspecified depressive disorder), anxiety disorder, PTSD and all nervous and/or emotional conditions.