Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of generalized anxiety and PTSD, and depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. With resolution of all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, a 50 percent disability rating has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to any incident of his active duty service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in denying the Veteran's claim of entitlement to SMC based on A&A. The case is now being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical mid-low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and his claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are granted. The claim for a disability manifested by fatigue remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new Board hearing. The original claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, remains under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and depression, as well as her service connection claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease. The decision also noted that she had withdrawn her appeal regarding a rating in excess of 40 percent for fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected organic mental syndrome with anxiety and depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, as well as insomnia, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or linking them to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a basilar skull fracture and depression were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar myositis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and a supplemental opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, including as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and an opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression and PTSD. The Board has expanded the claim to include an acquired psychiatric disorder, which may encompass any mental disability that the Veteran describes or is diagnosed with. The appeal will be remanded due to a lack of verification of the in-service stressor related to his sergeant's wife's suicide.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, was not incurred in active service. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a multi-level back condition, bilateral heel spurs and multiple joint arthralgias, and bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus and hammertoes have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of diagnosis of PTSD at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities, including PTSD and depression, have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as irritability, anger, resistance to authority, depressed mood and affect, social isolation, anhedonia, low self-esteem, impaired sleep, feelings of hopelessness, intrusive nightmares, some memory loss, fair insight and judgment, occasional paranoia, and orientation to person, time, and place, without delusions, hallucinations, suicidal ideation, obsessive or ritualistic behaviors, mania or psychosis, psychomotor agitations or retardation, illogical, obscure, or irrelevant speech, impaired impulse control, spatial disorientation, or panic attacks.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder, finding that new evidence supports her claims. The diagnoses are considered to be related to her fear of hostile military or terrorist activities during her service in Iraq.