Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to chronic lumbar myositis, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA addendum opinion and the need for additional development including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining whether any of the appellant's claimed disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as his 1151 claim. The depression rating was denied prior to May 11, 2012, and after that date it was denied at a higher level. The left knee meniscus tear and arthritis were also denied with the appropriate disability ratings. The right shoulder impingement claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded. The issue of service connection for loss of auricle has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including a right knee strain, meniscal tear, and bone contusion with cyst, is related to her INACDUTRA period of service. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating for voiding dysfunction. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities and grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, that had its onset or was aggravated during active service. The TDIU claim is also considered inextricably intertwined with the other claims on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is related to his period of service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding stressor verification.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was previously denied service connection in June 1998 and new evidence has been submitted raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions. The evidence now shows a link between her military sexual trauma and these disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his in-service stressors, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Veteran's service-connected irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depressive disorder have rendered him unemployable for substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a traumatic brain injury or its residuals, and denied service connection for headaches and depression as they are not related to the appellant's active duty service.

The Veteran's only current Axis I psychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder, was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service. The Board concludes that service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression did not begin during his active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle strain, right foot disability, and left thumb injury have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The acquired psychiatric disorder remains in dispute.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to incomplete actions in the prior rating decision.