Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for kyphosis, right knee plica, and social phobia (claimed as anxiety and depression).

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 25, 2008, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The appellant has withdrawn the appeal, and as a result, the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a stomach disability has been reopened. The evidence supports the reopening of both claims, but further development is needed to determine if there is a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence on whether service connection can be granted for headaches, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and various physical disabilities. The Veteran's willful misconduct in driving under the influence of alcohol during a vehicle accident is also being reconsidered.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression symptoms are currently rated at 70 percent, effective from February 4, 2013. The low back disability is not service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating effective June 7, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors and concluding that his current psychiatric conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and/or depressive disorder. The decision concluded that there was no current disability meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and major depressive disorder, and sickle cell trait as the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of onset during or within one year after active duty.,There is no credible evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia (paranoid type), psychosis, and depressive disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and depression associated with a service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The denial is based on the lack of evidence showing a diagnosis of PTSD during military service or since his claim, as well as inadequate details provided for verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder with psychotic features of depression is denied as there was no receipt of a formal or informal claim within one year after separation from service, and the earliest entitlement arose date is June 9, 1983.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Additionally, he needs a VA examination to assess whether his current left ankle disability is related to service or if it was caused by his service-connected chronic right ankle sprain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and determined that new evidence received since the August 2006 denial supports a causal relationship between her current mental health conditions and her military service. The Veteran is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his major depressive disorder, and determining whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depression is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder in partial remission, finding credible evidence of the Veteran's reported experiences during his Vietnam service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.