Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service, assuming he did not have a pre-existing condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including ADD, bipolar disorder, depression, social phobia, and social anxiety disorder, are not shown to be related to his service. The Board concludes that service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no competent and credible evidence indicating the Veteran currently suffers from a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether all service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and multiple scars, render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing this claim as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disorder, including depression.

The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia and major depressive disorder resulted in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, anger outbursts, disturbances of concentration, and difficulty establishing social relationships. The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for this condition prior to November 21, 2011.

The Veteran is granted a disability evaluation of 60 percent for hypothyroid disease prior to February 14, 2012. Service connection for a skin disorder secondary to service-connected depression is also granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the updating of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, attempting to obtain outstanding pre-service and post-service psychiatric treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination, and determining the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or incident causing these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's alcohol dependence is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and therefore service connection for alcohol dependence on a secondary basis is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder was rated at 50 percent from June 18, 2005, to April 23, 2012.