Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD with MDD is denied. The Board has remanded the case due to issues not yet addressed, including a potential TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected depression caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood. The Board granted an effective date of November 11, 2019 for the award of a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for other specified trauma related disorder, major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with alcohol abuse disorder was granted effective October 2, 2024.,Service connection for GERD was also granted effective October 2, 2024.

The appellant withdrew his appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating for primary insomnia disorder before a decision was made. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The rating reductions from 100% to 70% for PTSD with major depressive disorder and from 40% to 30% for residual painful scars of the trunk and lower extremities were improper. The ratings have been restored.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not show actual improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, as evidenced by consistent symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder was granted. The effective date is set at May 16, 2016, the date of his original claim. His current disability rating remains at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and right knee and bilateral ankle disabilities, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that her claims were not credible and that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness. The Veteran's symptoms predated her service and she did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.

The Board has already decided the issue of a disability rating greater than 70 percent for service-connected psychiatric disability, so this appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression and anxiety attacks is granted, effective from January 31, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and remanded several issues related to service connection, rating increases, and unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 70 percent for major depression and anxiety disorder with insomnia is denied. The appeal for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is dismissed as moot. The service connection claim for a neck disability is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as PTSD and MD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and history of major depressive disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) is dismissed because the issue has been fully addressed by granting service connection for persistent depressive disorder with other specified personality disorder to include alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension and adjustment disorder with depressive disorder have been granted ratings, but the rating for the psychiatric condition is higher than requested. The hypertension rating remains at 10 percent, while the adjustment disorder rating has increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, are related to his service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and substance abuse, as well as the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35, are granted effective June 27, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left inguinal hernia, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), and hypertension due to secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disability. The AOJ is required to provide addendum VA medical opinions and consider all theories of entitlement.