Depression Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 2, 2010 for the award of a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder and denied his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The appeals for a higher disability rating for psychiatric disabilities and service connection for sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board has granted a TDIU effective August 31, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with recurrent mild anxiety prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of diabetes mellitus, type II and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance due to inadequate examination. The Veteran's DMII is rated at 20 percent, but a higher evaluation may be warranted given his additional service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds due to his mental incapacity resulting from a stroke, and the appeal is denied.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and corroborating in-service stressors. The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depression Disorder are being evaluated again as part of this process.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left wrist, right wrist, right knee, and right shoulder disorders. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder originated during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is granted as service connected.,Major depression (claimed as anxiety and insomnia) is also granted as secondary to the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development related to his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and obstructive sleep apnea. The VA will attempt to verify the in-service stressor claimed by the Veteran and provide a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's MDD was granted a disability rating of 50 percent from May 14, 2015 to March 12, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 70 percent rating for major depression disorder, recurrent, with anxious distress (claimed as mental health condition) has been dismissed because the benefit requested has already been granted by the April 2024 Board decision.

The Veteran's claims of a compensable disability rating for rheumatoid arthritis and service connection for depression, as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are linked to her reported in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has granted secondary service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), and OSA, all of which are found to be proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of right hip trochanteric pain syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and current disability ratings. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were dismissed because the claims had already been granted in full in October 2020 and January 2021, respectively.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to adjudicate the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development.