Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted an increased rating in November 2023, which resolved the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and his TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment due to MDD, and that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no persuasive evidence of a current disability that comports with VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, with anxious distress as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been granted, effective from February 16, 2017. The RO also remanded the issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the earliest date was April 28, 2009.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since April 23, 2014. The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability. The service connection for tooth number 9 disability is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for reducing his psychiatric disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST), finding that the Veteran's PTSD is related to a reported in-service assault.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been rated at 50 percent for the period on appeal. The rating is based on symptoms such as depression, anxiety, difficulty maintaining and establishing effective work and social relationships, anger, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, and a tendency to isolate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and verifying service stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in verifying two claimed stressors during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is now pending and will be reconsidered with the correct information.

The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for left and right foot hammer toes, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, to include social anxiety, have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left achilles tendonitis and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The Veteran's in-service stressors are linked to his current symptoms.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive and anxiety disorders, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent due to his symptoms being consistent with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a medical examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD. The VA is required to schedule an examination for this purpose.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for PTSD and Depression. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.