Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression and ADD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis related to his active service or any service-connected condition. His erectile dysfunction was not determined to be secondary to his service-connected prostatitis. As such, the Veteran's SMC claim based on loss of use of a creative organ is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by her active military service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date prior to November 1, 2010. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral inguinal hernias status post herniorrhaphy, including residual scars, are rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depressive disorder and alcohol consumption during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder NOS, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected thoracolumbar strain. The bilateral knee disability claim remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood and depression. The Veteran's mental health conditions are considered direct service connections without any presumption or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 21, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection is denied. The Veteran was diagnosed with anxiety disorder NOS, major depressive disorder (MDD), and mood disorder NOS, but these diagnoses are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to determine the disability rating for the Veteran's PTSD with depression between June 1961 and March 29, 2001.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder on the merits. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding, pertinent private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder warranted a 30 percent rating since May 8, 2006. The effective date for this rating is July 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not shown to be clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a not otherwise specified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's combat-related experiences during active service are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is not related to his active duty service.