Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss increased in severity during his second period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection by way of aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA mental health examination. The TDIU claim will also be re-evaluated based on the updated claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is granted. The claims of service connection for incontinence and gastric ulcer are withdrawn. The TDIU issue will be readjudicated following the assignment of an appropriate rating for the service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted. He is now rated at 70 percent for PTSD with depression and anxiety from August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012.,Prior to August 31, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety was rated at 30 percent. From August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with his nonservice-connected depression, resulted in moderate social and occupational impairment. The Board has determined that a disability rating of 50 percent is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 29, 2005. The effective date for the TDIU rating remains pending as it is not related to service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's stressors have been verified, and he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability. The issue of TDIU has also been re-raised.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for obsessive compulsive disorder with major depressive disorder was withdrawn by the representative. The right wrist carpal boss issue is granted a compensable initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher disability rating and individual unemployability have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depression, finding that it is directly related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence of the Veteran's level of exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and thus cannot establish service connection based on such exposure. The claim for Parkinson's disease was denied as there is no medical evidence supporting a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and any relevant SSA records. An examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran has other psychiatric disorders that may be related to his service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current depression and anxiety are related to his service-connected scar from cyst removal.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any other acquired psychiatric disorders present during his period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, specifically depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, were incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and delusional disorder, secondary to bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for PTSD with major depression was not granted as the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in 2013.