Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his PTSD with depression claim. The TDIU issue remains in abeyance pending resolution of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of cervical spine strain and paranoid schizophrenia, but finds no current disability that can be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his combat experiences during service. Service connection was also granted for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure (Gulf War Syndrome).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and updated treatment records. The issue of service connection for cognitive deficits as secondary to depression has also been referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied. The claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current depressive disorder, which he contends began during service or is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's major depression and depressive disorder with psychosis are proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's major depression is rated at 50 percent, effective January 22, 2007. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from September 30, 2008. The Board has granted service connection for major depression and adjustment disorder under the theory of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and other acquired psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to his military service. Additionally, the Board found that the Veteran's low back condition had its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depression had its onset in service and is granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not addressed as it fell under a separate issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include rating his anxiety and depressive disorder, increased hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, ischemic heart disease, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome. The claims are also remanded for an opinion on whether he has any acquired psychiatric disability related to service or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, psychosis, and a back disability. The decision also denied his claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus and his request to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. For PTSD, the Board found that he met the criteria for a 70% rating prior to January 22, 2014 but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since then.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video-conference hearing due to his request and the need to provide proper administrative procedures.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's initial ratings for chronic stuttering, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity remain unchanged.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition has been rated at 50 percent since September 14, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as his symptoms have not manifested to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.