Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for depression as there is no current disability and the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and major depressive disorder were granted, but the effective dates are denied.,Service connection was granted for a low back disability (degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis).,The Veteran's claim for lattice degeneration with atrophic holes is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with major depressive features was granted, effective from February 9, 1995.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from May 3, 2024.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Board has found the May 2020 rating decision that addressed entitlement to service connection for PTSD/depression, ichthyosis, hearing loss, left and right ankle conditions, and a right foot condition to be the one on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of chronic sensorineural hearing loss within the presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim requires an examination for service connection due to incomplete medical history provided by the VA examiner. The ichthyosis claim requires a corrected opinion based on accurate STRs showing groin rash treatment in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, right ear hearing loss, and depression and anxiety with intermittent explosive disorder (depression and anxiety) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for migraines or establish current disability for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and COPD due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions. The claim is being returned to provide such evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective May 25, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The reduction in rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for insomnia disorder was improper, and the 30 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent from September 2, 2022, to May 8, 2023.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and insomnia, is granted as service connected. The stressors leading to these conditions have been corroborated with credible evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and likely cause of any acquired psychiatric disability, as well as whether the condition clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 70 percent prior to August 18, 2025, for service-connected PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with associated conditions is rated at a 70 percent disability level, effective from the date of the May 2025 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, and an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The Veteran meets the current disability requirement and has met the in-service injury requirement with respect to her migraine headaches and major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service, thus granting service connection for them.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to these benefits prior to July 2, 2024.

The Veteran's mental health disorder (depression with anxiety) is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for depression and anxiety as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his current conditions are related to service. The AOJ needs to verify a claimed traumatic experience during active duty that may have caused his mental health issues.