Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and esophageal disability. The issues of service connection are also pending.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition has been manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The symptoms have included flattened affect, impaired judgment, and difficulty in establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression has resulted in occupational and social impairment, specifically reduced reliability and productivity. The symptoms include nightmares, intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbance, controlled irritability, anxiety, panic attacks more than once a week, oversight at work on complex tasks, and difficulty establishing effective social relationships outside of work and family situations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was incurred in service due to a personal assault. The claim is granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found that it is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and MDD was granted with an effective date of June 9, 2007, the day following his separation from active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his foot and ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a nervous condition, including PTSD and drug and alcohol abuse. The Veteran is found to have a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, a nervous disorder, and major depressive disorder with drug and alcohol dependence, which is attributable to his active military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's mood disorder was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with calluses and plantar warts, granting service connection for this aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's upper and lower GI tract disability, depression, and fatigue were not incurred or related to service. The appendectomy scar was also denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his claims of tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder), and eczema of the feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and iatrogenic poly systemic chronic candidiasis due to allergic reaction to sulfonamides has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder NOS, and polysubstance abuse and dependence have been rated at the highest possible level of 100 percent. The rating for recurrent urolithiasis/kidney stones is not applicable as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The rating for patellar tendinitis and Osgood Schlatter's Disease of the left knee remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and PTSD have been granted ratings of 50 percent each, effective from the date of claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include generalized anxiety disorder and finds that it is at least as likely as not caused by or the result of his service. The Veteran's other acquired psychiatric disorders are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-5. A diagnosis of depressive disorder is shown but the weight of the evidence is against a finding that it relates to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his psychiatric condition and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective March 27, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and depression with alcohol use disorder, was incurred in military service.