Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that service connection is not established for any of the claimed disabilities, including a low back disability, disorders of the bilateral eyes, major depression, and disabilities of the bilateral wrists and hands.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to verify stressors and obtain additional medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for major depressive disorder was granted at a 30 percent level effective September 16, 2008. The current appeal is about whether the Veteran should receive an increased rating beyond this initial grant.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and MDD, which are related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST) that has been corroborated by credible supporting evidence. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression and OCD. The evidence received since the last final decisions does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted an initial rating of 50 percent, effective July 1, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since April 6, 2007. The Board finds that a 70 percent rating is warranted for the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge from service or were not caused by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder) is also not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, as there is no verified stressor. The other psychiatric conditions are also denied due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of his service-connected depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and for further development before readjudication can proceed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for severe depression, which is secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain, has been remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are found to be the result of his active duty service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression is denied as there is no credible evidence of a personal assault in service. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD have been denied. The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for his sleep disorder secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. His service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to his low back disability was also granted.

The Board found that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show a pre-existing psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.