Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim of service connection for anxiety and depression was granted, but he is not entitled to a compensable rating for his scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has aggravated his acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, beyond its natural course.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disability and concluded that the Veteran's claimed PTSD is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, are not related to his military service or any event of service origin. The residuals of a right ankle sprain were rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the diagnosed major depressive disorder is related to service or due to or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the exception of a higher evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mental stress, anxiety, and depression. The appeal was decided on the merits without any presumption or new evidence.

The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate current diagnoses for depression, seizures, migraine headaches, inguinal hernia scar, or schizotypal personality disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiological and psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA treating psychiatrist regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for attention deficit disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of his active naval service, including the in-service stressor involving J.B. and the jet engine intake.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including an adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, is found to be secondary to his service-connected hemorrhoid disorder.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to clarify whether the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and to determine if his current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his initial claim in October 29, 2007. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, intrusive thoughts, near-continuous depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances including at work, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The Board has granted a 50 percent initial disability rating for PTSD for the entire appeal period, finding that the severity of symptoms more nearly approximates reduced reliability and productivity due to depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, sleep disturbance, disturbances in motivation, poor concentration, impairment of short term memory, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but the underlying matter of his entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD remains pending. The case is being REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and arrange a mental health examination.