Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was inadequate, as it did not address whether the Veteran requires personal care services each time he completes one or more activities of daily living (ADLs). The case is being remanded to conduct an updated medical review.

The Veteran's attorney is contesting the denial of attorney fees for grants based on Supplemental Claims appealing denials when the supplemental claim is received more than a year after issuance of the rating decision denying benefits. The RO committed a pre-decisional duty to assist by not completely and correctly adjudicating the issue of whether the appellant is eligible to an attorney fee of 20 percent from past-due benefits awarded in the March 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder and substance abuse and alcohol use disorder was granted, but the effective date is denied prior to September 21, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a heart disorder have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and review, including new VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine disability, painful scars of the right knee, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a TBI examination to assess whether the Veteran's memory and concentration problems are residuals of his TBI, or if they are related to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and for an additional examination to determine if he has any current acquired psychiatric disorders related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from January 6, 2017.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent effective October 8, 2022.,Service connection for depression and anxiety is granted as secondary to service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and PTSD do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 13, 2020. However, after March 13, 2020, he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his combined rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease from September 6, 2011 to October 3, 2011 has been found to have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's statements about in-service experiences are considered, but a new examination is needed to determine if these events caused or aggravated his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for further evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate addendum VA opinion regarding the causality of the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder. The examiner must provide a new opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements and provided lay statements from his mother and ex-wife.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during active service. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's depression as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations and his reported stressors need to be verified.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The claims for residuals of head injury and back injury are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are attributable to traumatic events during active-duty service.