Depression decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was provided with a VA examination and his claims were readjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for boils on the head was denied in June 2005, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied in June 2005. New and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression has been rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 9413, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical examination and treatment records review, as well as a remand of the case back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment commensurate with his education and training background.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service or an in-service incident, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an extraschedular rating for his headaches, lumbar disc disease, or hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and a Social and Industrial Survey. The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is being reviewed, as well as his TDIU issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression is causally related to service, thus granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, did not begin during or as a result of an incident in service and thus denied service connection.,The February 2015 VA examiner concluded that the appellant's current heel pain is more likely due to his obesity and vascular disease rather than previous stress fractures from service.

The Veteran's atherosclerosis of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The Veteran has metatarsalgia of the right foot, but no other diagnosed foot condition. His acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression) and kidney disease are not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of some issues related to his prostate condition and sleep apnea. The decision also includes a determination that he is eligible for special monthly compensation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability benefits information and National Guard service records.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a pancreas disorder related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disorders are also not found to be directly related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an evaluation higher than this.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination. The effective date of the increased rating remains under review.