Depression decisions — 2015

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to an in-service personal assault. After resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and private treatment records from O. Truong and C. Stewart, as well as complete authorization forms for these providers.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for a review examination, completion of VA Form 21-8940, and consideration of his service-connected PTSD and MDD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and OCD with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction related to the Veteran's in-service personal assaults.,Service connection is established for PTSD and OCD based on a diagnosis related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and provide opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 2, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms of frequent panic attacks, social isolation, poor concentration, and depressed mood meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or service-connected acne vulgaris.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 11, 2011. The claims for hypertension and anxiety/depressive disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hip disorder, ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis. The remaining issues were addressed, but the case is remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and reopened the claims for cervical strain and low back pain. The increased rating and TDIU claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 10 percent, effective from March 25, 2010. The issues of increased ratings for the right ankle and depression disabilities are also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his initial evaluations for bilateral TMJ disability and major depressive disorder were found to be appropriate, with the highest ratings of 20 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to active service and an audiometric evaluation of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for fibromyalgia and TDIU was denied as her disability picture is adequately contemplated by the rating schedule criteria, and she does not meet the requirements for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety symptoms are already contemplated by his rating for service-connected major depressive disorder, and is against a finding that the Veteran has a separate diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the Veteran's inability to attend his scheduled hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression did not have its onset during service and is not related to his active duty. The claim for service connection for depression was denied.