Depression Board decisions

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and thus another remand is required. The claims for a higher rating for major depressive disorder, service connection for a left knee disability, and TDIU are all being remanded for further development.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease and major depressive disorder.,Hypertension is presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,An earlier effective date of March 23, 2018, for major depressive disorder is denied as there was no prior claim.,The disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is restored to 30 percent effective April 24, 2018.,A temporary total disability rating (100%) for ischemic heart disease following bypass surgery on April 6, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a back condition, headaches (including migraine), PTSD due to MST, depression, and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse disorder, and major depressive disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based solely on unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied. The Board concluded that there was no evidence showing the Veteran was unemployable due to this disability alone.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his Parkinson's disease and related conditions rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as there is no service connection granted.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as major depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, resulted in total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a higher rating of 100 percent effective June 15, 2021.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and TBI has been granted at a 70 percent rating.,His partial complex seizure disorder remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (major depressive disorder, left hip bursitis, and tinnitus) have rendered him unemployable due to their severity. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 80% for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to May 28, 2019, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 28, 2019, have been resolved. The Veteran's claim for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to May 28, 2019, has also been resolved.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder without agoraphobia is granted a 100 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, due to insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's obesity, which may be caused by her service-connected conditions, substantially contributed to the development of her sleep apnea. The examiner must consider if obesity is a substantial factor in causing the sleep apnea and whether it would not have occurred without the obesity.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, dizziness, and headaches are all found to have onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70% from November 26, 2008, and a 100% rating from June 28, 2012. The claim for increased ratings for neck disability, left hand peripheral neuropathy, right hand peripheral neuropathy, SMC based on housebound status, and TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service, including verified in-service stressors.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, insomnia, and substance use disorder, finding that no formal or informal claim was received from the Veteran prior to February 3, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for mechanical low back pain was denied. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and a sleep disorder, was also denied.