Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, pulmonary vascular disease, post-phlebitic syndrome of the left lower extremity, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is found to be related to her active-duty service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and her active-duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are rated at 70 percent, allowing for a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, foot, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The claims are related to service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that an effective date of November 27, 2019 is warranted for the award of a 70 percent rating for MDD. The Veteran's claims for right hip and left knee disabilities as well as TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted with an effective date of July 7, 2020. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement arose was December 27, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, MDD, and GAD are causally related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder (MDD), finding that his current symptoms are related to events he experienced during service. Service connection is denied for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unemployable prior to December 8, 2023. After that date, his disability rating was increased to 100%, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Veteran's claim for an initial noncompensable rating for headaches associated with PTSD and depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected due to dishonorable discharge.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and polysubstance disorder) granted as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection for GERD granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for hypertension granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were granted service connection effective August 27, 2018. As a result, the criteria for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 are met as of that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for panic disorder with unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The effective date of SMC based on the loss of use of a creative organ is set at November 21, 2017. The effective date of TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 are both set at January 22, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is related to service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for service-connected major depressive disorder was denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for major depressive disorder was also denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) prior to May 14, 2021 is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board also notes that the Veteran has a separate service-connected psychiatric disability and asserts secondary service connection for voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 1, 2019.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his time in active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the 70 percent rating for service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder has been withdrawn by their authorized representative.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, right hip condition, and left hip condition are all granted. However, the Veteran's sleep apnea, right hip condition, and left hip condition are denied as not related to service.