Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his records, including from the Social Security Administration and United States Office of Personnel Management.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 have been denied as the evidence does not support a link between his claimed conditions and active service or VA treatment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms did not cause total occupational and social impairment as required for a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with MDD was granted, and an effective date of December 13, 2015 (the day following separation from service) is assigned.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a disability rating of 50 percent prior to September 18, 2021 and a 100 percent rating from that date. The decision also denied other claims.

The Board has expanded the service connection claim to include any acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses and in-service documentation of having an anxious affect or mood, along with post-discharge VA treatment records reflecting reports of psychiatric symptoms related to service, suggest a need for a VA examination to determine whether his claimed disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but his claim for MDD with GAD was granted. The appeal regarding the Veteran's request for service connection for residuals of removal of lipomas is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mood disturbance, depression with insomnia, and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches were denied as service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service.,Service connection for anxiety/depression was also denied, with no mention of any specific in-service event or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder was granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is now rated at 70 percent since March 15, 2023. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and gastric erosions) are granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of sinusitis. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression), fibromyalgia, benign thyroid nodule removal with residual scar, GERD, hypertension, and hysterectomy have all been denied.,Effective dates earlier than August 29, 2002, for the grant of service connection for these conditions are not granted.

The Veteran's claims for depression and anxiety were dismissed as the appeal was opted into the AMA, which means they are no longer under consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding his employment status and income. The AOJ must request additional tax returns from 2017 to present, complete a VA Form 21-8940, and provide an SSOC.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected other specified depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for new VA examination and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder is granted, but the service connection claim for his lower back condition remains pending and remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD caused total occupational impairment but not total social impairment prior to December 11, 2023. Therefore, a rating greater than 70 percent is denied.