Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating available for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective May 4, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder was withdrawn prior to the issuance of a decision. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, effective May 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depression, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the right and left legs are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was aggravated by active duty service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability was not incurred as a result of his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; skin disorder, including psoriatic arthritis; liver disorder, including cirrhosis; portal hypertension; and esophageal disorder prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder must be remanded due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of corroborating evidence of an in-service personal assault. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he experienced such an assault and whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to it.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Meniere's disease, PTSD and depressive disorder, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify the stressor event and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right hip disability, depressive disorder, fatigue disorder, throat disorder, shoulder joint pain, left hip bursitis, and left knee strain. The decision also addressed issues related to melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, nevus, toe joint disorders, and a bilateral leg condition (claimed as muscle pain).

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, specifically Major Depressive Disorder. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence meeting the diagnostic criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, NOS (now depressive disorder with symptoms of PTSD) and tinnitus, are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that the Veteran's employment is not in a protected environment, thus denying his claim for TDIU. The combined disability rating of 70% meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, MDD, anxiety disorder and OCD, due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by service; nor may a psychosis be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Roanoke, Virginia.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected depressive disorder and chronic lumbar strain, which have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent.