Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining records from non-VA providers and verifying periods of active duty for training.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating due to their severity, frequency, and duration.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70% rating effective June 4, 2014. He is seeking an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the symptoms associated with the condition more closely approximated a 50 percent disability rating, which is currently assigned.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD with anxiety and depression was reduced from 100% to 70%, but the reduction is void ab initio due to a failure to provide a predetermination hearing. The VA has restored the original 100% disability rating effective September 1, 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating effective April 24, 2020.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with insomnia disorder was rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating, as they were consistent with a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection in a previous decision. The claims for service connection for vision disorder (cataracts) and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's major depression, with cannabis and cocaine use disorder in remission, is rated at 100 percent effective May 2, 2018. The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, effective from December 23, 2021. The Board also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's request for a Higher Level Review was timely due to good cause, and thus the AOJ's decision denying service connection for various conditions is now reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report and a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being reviewed with additional evidence considered.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric condition effective June 14, 2021 is dismissed.,A disability rating of 100% for the entire period on appeal for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Chronic Adjustment Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, finding that new evidence submitted after previous denials supports this claim.

The Veteran's major depression disorder and somatic symptom disorder are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee strain and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his in-service adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder and persistent depressive disorder due to the appellant's request to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including depression, insomnia, and PTSD due to MST. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into active service but her claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional errors, including reliance on uncorroborated allegations of a suicide attempt during service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being reviewed for direct service connection and potential aggravation by her service-connected disabilities.