Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD and his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and flattened affect. He received a 50% evaluation for this condition.,For the right knee disability, there was no more than some pain and limitation of flexion (without flexion limited to 30 degrees), extension (limited to 10 degrees), locking, recurrent subluxation, or lateral instability. The Veteran's current appeal is limited to the period prior to September 23, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and gastrointestinal issues, were denied as there is no current disability or evidence of a causal relationship to active military service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher initial disability rating for erectile dysfunction and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of deformity of the penis or other physical impairment warranting a compensable evaluation. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claimed anxiety and depression were not shown to be related to his service-connected erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder is not shown to be directly related to his military service or secondary to a service-connected disability, including PTSD. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and his diagnoses of depressive disorder and dissociative disorder do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a higher rating, but his claim for service connection of a heart condition and low back disorder remains pending. His claim to reopen the low back disorder is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder. The evidence now shows current diagnoses of PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Depressive Disorder not otherwise specified, all related to service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability, as well as evaluating his psychiatric and low back disorders. The claims will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current depression/depressive disorder is not etiologically related to his service-connected mechanical low back pain or migraine headaches, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as well as for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and providing an addendum opinion to the February 2014 VA examination.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and you are now receiving compensation for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. The appeal is dismissed as the full benefit sought on appeal has been allowed.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service assault and denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and psychiatric disorder, concluding that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency prior to March 15, 2011; reduced reliability and productivity between March 16, 2011 and June 30, 2013; and severe deficiencies in most areas since July 1, 2013.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and depressive disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury and any psychiatric disorder. The claims will be adjudicated again after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD and depressive disorder are not related to his service, including as due to any in-service stressors. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that he has these conditions as a result of military service.