Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been granted service connection, with a rating of 70 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression cause occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's scars are rated based on their current condition without any need for further clarification of service connection or exposure basis.,Chronic pain, vertigo, and chronic fatigue have not been established as service-connected conditions.,Service connection has been granted for hepatitis C with an effective date prior to March 2, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety and depression, as well as his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are related to service. The effective date for these conditions is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding the hepatitis claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse. The AOJ must also reclassify the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD as an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired mental disorder, to include PTSD with associated depressive disorder and alcohol abuse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, and therefore service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum report from a VA examiner to address whether any acquired psychiatric disability existed prior to service and is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for HIV, Hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to cause significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with associated anxiety and depression are totally disabling from June 24, 2006, to the present. The Board grants a 100 percent schedular evaluation for this period.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claims of service connection for left hip pain, hypertension, ischemic stroke with facial weakness and slight pronator drift (claimed as stroke), bipolar disorder with depression, and alcohol and drug dependency.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD with anxiety, depression, and psychotic episodes, that was caused by his service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions were previously considered in a prior denial of his claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a respiratory disability. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart disease and stroke are being remanded due to procedural issues, and his request to reopen the claim of service connection for depression is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypothyroidism, with associated depressive disorder, warrants a disability rating of 60 percent. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU rating, and his service-connected disabilities are shown to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and work background.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, shown to be related to service or a stressor event. His anxiety and depression are attributed to non-service-related factors.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was found to be no more than mild or transient, with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings.