Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder and MDD disability have been manifested by total social and occupational impairment due to symptoms such as persistent auditory hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, memory loss for names of close relatives, near-continuous depression, and sleep impairment. As the Veteran is already eligible for special monthly compensation, award of TDIU can result in no further benefit.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding in-service stressors and verification of diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries were not incurred or aggravated by active military service, ACDUTRA, or IDT. Therefore, her claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, major depression, and anxiety are related to traumatic events during his military service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for major depression was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to suggest total occupational and social impairment prior to May 1, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for established eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied. The effective date cannot precede the date permanent and total disability was awarded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was also requested to provide information about his prior treatment from SSA.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed (including depressive disorder and psychosis), manifested as a result of his active military service. As such, the criteria for establishing entitlement to service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if there is a qualifying chronic disability manifested by generalized muscle and joint pain, as well as to address the psychiatric claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 8, 2006 for the award of TDIU benefits. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety is rated at 30 percent since January 14, 2013. His low back disability is rated at 20 percent since November 25, 2009, and his neck disability is also rated at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and depression, as well as his claim for a TDIU, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension or a rating in excess of 50 percent for depression.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, was rated at 30 percent since January 30, 2006. The current rating is appropriate given the symptoms and impairment described.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed major depression disorder is related to his period of service or secondary to his service-connected migraine headache disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing records and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep disorder, insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and residuals of fractured nose are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and referring the case for extraschedular consideration, is necessary.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a date earlier than March 5, 2010.