Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and confirming his reported stressors. He will also be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD and whether it is related to service. Additionally, he will undergo a VA general medical examination to assess the severity of his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder have been granted, along with a TDIU. Her combined disability rating is now 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right ankle sprain, and depression/anxiety. However, no effective date is assigned as the evidence does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his depression and other service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability other than PTSD is not related to his military service and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD or other mental illness, including depressive disorder. The remaining claims of service connection for testicular cancer and BPH, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), including major depressive disorder, and assigned a compensable rating of 40 percent. The left ankle Achilles tendonitis is also service-connected as secondary to the service-connected left heel fracture.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and somatoform disorder have been productive of moderate symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder not otherwise specified, pulmonary fibrosis, and degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her service-connected conditions has been denied. The severance of service connection for major depression is final, and the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for this condition prior to its termination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions, such as spine disorder, neurological impairment, heart disease, Graves' disease, headaches, dizziness, and numbness in the legs. The appellant is also scheduled for a psychiatric examination to address any PTSD or depression.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board dismissed an issue seeking an increased rating for a left knee disability, denied entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss, and denied entitlement to earlier effective date for the November 1, 2005 assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's motion alleging CUE in the July 2009 Board decision was dismissed as the Court affirmed the Board's decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing PTSD was aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the November 2010 VA examiner and a new opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities collectively render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, neurological deficit of the right foot, depression not otherwise specified associated with the service-connected lumbar spine disability, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional efforts to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors, including a witnessed aircraft crash. The VA examiner diagnosed dysthymic disorder but found no PTSD due to the lack of corroborated exposure to a traumatic event.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since September 6, 2007. The RO granted a higher rating for his depressive disorder and denied service connection for sleep disability.