Depression Board decisions

Service connection is granted for bilateral dry eye syndrome, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. Service connection is denied for acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, left knee disability loss, left hip disability, right foot disability loss, lumbar spine disability, and skin rash.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to April 18, 2023. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression. The case is being remanded to consider the merits of his claims for lower back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 9, 2020, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD with MDD is granted. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD from February 9, 2020, is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to a personal assault during active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, muscle injury, left and right knee conditions are all granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service work as a mortuary affairs specialist. His muscle injury is related to the run during an Army Physical Fitness Test. However, his left and right knee conditions do not have sufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxious distress is dismissed.,A rating of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxious distress, effective February 2, 2022, is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress and Alcohol Use Disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected neck and left knee disabilities, finding that his depression is more likely related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2020 VA examination report. The examiner did not provide sufficient clarity on the impact of the Veteran's depressive disorder on his occupational and social functioning.

The appeal to reduce the disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is dismissed because no reduction has taken place.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including as residuals of TBI. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and depressed mood, is related to service. However, due to a lack of a VA examination, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for Major Depressive Disorder. A new VA opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's MDD had its onset during or was otherwise related to his military service, and if it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder, is rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2019. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will reconsider the claim based on new service records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated for its relationship to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment. The Veteran maintains employment and has maintained relationships with family members.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from October 28, 2011 to April 29, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.,The Veteran is seeking an evaluation in excess of 30 percent and an earlier effective date for his major depressive disorder with an unspecified anxiety disorder from October 28, 2011 to May 5, 2019. The Board has remanded these issues due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports the readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's depressive disorder is now granted based on a finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.