Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol related disorder, and cannabis related disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The appeal for service connection for insomnia is dismissed.,The appeal for increased disability ratings for a service-connected adjustment disorder prior to October 30, 2024 is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and unspecified dementia without behavioral disturbance is rated at 100% effective January 25, 2022. The effective date for the grant of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is also set to January 25, 2022.

The Board has determined that the previous denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and anxiety, was due to a pre-decisional error. The claim is being remanded for further review.

The Board denied attorney fees for past-due benefits awarded in the June 2024 rating decision, as it was not a result of a valid appeal and did not involve service connection.

The appeal of right ear hearing loss and the acquired psychiatric disorder claims are dismissed. The TBI claim is denied with an initial rating of 40 percent, post-traumatic headaches and right eye diplopia claims are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability did not manifest by total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective July 30, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as flat feet. The Veteran's lay statements and buddy statement were not considered in the previous VA examination, and a new one is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for unspecified depressive disorder with depressive features is denied. The effective date will be fixed in accordance with the date of receipt of the initial claim or date entitlement arose, whichever is later.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence at least in approximate balance regarding whether his conditions were caused by military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected MDD caused or aggravated her OSA. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not related to service. The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and individual unemployability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified depressive disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including personality disorder and PTSD, is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence sufficient to grant service connection due to a qualifying event in service.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his major depressive disorder prior to November 20, 2019. The Board finds that a remand is required due to the incomplete examination report used in assigning the initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, including substance abuse and depression, was denied as the effective date of June 6, 2023, is considered the earliest possible effective date given his intent to file on that day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with right foot tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain status post ankle reconstruction surgery to include gastroc muscle, Achilles tear, and posterior calcaneal exostosis, intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis, and right foot hallux valgus, have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent or more for the period before October 16, 2020. Therefore, an effective date of January 8, 2019, is granted for the grant of TDIU.