Depression — all decisions

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression associated with tinnitus, left knee strain, tinnitus, hypertension, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus with bilateral heel pain and remanded the claims for service connection for anxiety and depression.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder prior to October 18, 2024, but remanded the claim for sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, as her sleep disturbances and depression were found to be symptoms of her already service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and restless leg syndrome, denied service connection for a respiratory disorder other than sinusitis and rhinitis, and granted an initial rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder effective August 18, 2022.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation from 70 percent to a 30 rating for service-connected psychiatric disability and from 10 percent to a 30 rating for service-connected GERD (incorrectly stated as 30% in the decision) were not proper.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted a 30 percent disability rating, but no higher. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions are denied.

The Board granted service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for an acquired psychiatric disorder characterized by a trauma disorder with depression, based on a medical nexus between the Veteran's in-service incurrence and current diagnosis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding TERA development and VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with associated depression, major depressive disorder, polysubstance dependence, cocaine dependence, alcohol dependence, and a history of heroine dependence.

The Board remands the claim for a psychiatric disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and polysubstance use and chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder (UDD) prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as of September 15, 2020.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected persistent depressive disorder effective from November 7, 2022, and denied entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder based on credible evidence of in-service stressors and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD was granted, while the claims for a low back disability and increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress with bruxism were denied. The rating for the psychiatric condition was increased to 70 percent effective May 10, 2024.

The appeal for service connection for unspecified depression with anxious distress, moderate (claimed as insomnia) was dismissed. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The lumbosacral strain to include DJD and DDD was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than November 2, 2023, for his service-connected major depressive disorder, secondary to a service-connected shoulder condition.