Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted, effective from the date of the March 2023 rating decision. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating in excess of 70 percent remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent from December 3, 2019 forward.,Prior to September 30, 2019, the Veteran was not granted an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to address the correct issue in the first instance, which was service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety, depression, anger, and both left and right knee arthroscopy has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder) are effective as of April 5, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for any acquired psychiatric condition, including alcohol use disorder, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD due to further development being required.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and secondary substance use disorders are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a qualifying injury in service due to an in-service sexual assault, which led to her current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based solely on PTSD with recurrent MDD prior to February 29, 2016 was denied because the schedular criteria were not met. The Board has ordered a remand to attempt to obtain a private psychological evaluation from August 25, 2015.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of PTSD, anxiety, and depression as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for his psychiatric disorder and right knee disability prior to August 27, 2020 is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU ratings prior to August 27, 2020 are also denied. The Veteran's right knee disability from August 27, 2020 and his TDIU rating from that date are remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disability and depression claims are remanded due to incomplete development of records from his service in Germany, lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the kidney disability, and the need for further examination by a nephrologist. The psychiatric claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the kidney disability claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals as to his claims for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely notice of disagreement (NOD). The NODs were not filed within one year of the September 2016 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for obtaining missing VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and schizotypal personality disorder, are being reviewed again as they may be related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted service connection, but his PTSD claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety, PTSD, and depression due to issues with notification of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of March 7, 1991.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various upper and lower extremity disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence of a cold injury or other in-service event that caused these conditions.