Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disability was granted with an effective date of May 7, 2021. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability is granted, with a 70% rating effective January 2, 2020. The appeal also includes a request for an earlier effective date and TDIU from March 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for increases in the staged ratings (of 50 percent prior to February 2, 2016, and 70 percent since that date) for PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and effective date for his service-connected major depressive disorder was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2020.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of sleep apnea and granted an earlier effective date of June 7, 2016 for headaches. The Veteran's increased rating for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and dementia with insomnia are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that these symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and bilateral foot conditions, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2023. The Board granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety associated with migraine was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of whether bilateral tinnitus is secondary to service-connected depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with an opinion on this theory.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without assistive devices and lack of blindness in both eyes.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right ankle, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection and rating determinations related to various conditions, including knee disabilities, depression, arthritis, and fractures. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was denied as there is no evidence to support a prior effective date before June 23, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD and anxious distress is denied. TDIU is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating from May 1, 2019.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent effective December 8, 2020.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) has been granted as of December 8, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and MDD was granted with an effective date of June 13, 2012, the date she initially informed VA about her need for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of major depressive disorder with insomnia was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.