Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified depression and anxiety, is found to be etiologically linked to his active duty service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is sufficient to qualify him for a TDIU based on schedular criteria as of August 16, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if he is unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and related depression and alcohol dependence, is due to an inseparable and equal part to his service-connected stockade incident. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of right foot surgery was denied due to the lack of evidence showing that the proximate cause of his nerve entrapment was carelessness, negligence, or any other fault on VA's part.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as an ulcer) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, were also denied. The Veteran failed to provide credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed without prejudice. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for lumbar strain and spondylosis, depression as secondary to these conditions, and hypertension as secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder NOS, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his in-service stressors and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 2, 2010, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals of the determinations in the October 2010 and March 2012 rating decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his in-service stressor, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. The skin disorder claims have been remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including verification of claimed stressors and a psychiatric evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability and denied service connection. The psychiatric disorder claim was remanded.

The Board has characterized the issue on appeal as entitlement to service connection for PTSD, given the evidence of record (including diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder). The Veteran was previously claimed for PTSD only; however, the diagnosis of major depression disorder must be considered. A remand is required for an adequate opinion addressing whether the Veteran's PTSD and/or his major depressive disorder are the result of his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there is no probative evidence of record establishing a direct relationship to service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to be indicative of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, resulting in an initial evaluation of 30 percent. The claim for hypertension secondary to PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with recurrent anxiety and lumbar spine facet joint arthritis have been granted increased ratings, but the specific details of the rating decisions are not provided in this excerpt.