Depression decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, back disability, left eye disability, residuals of cold injury of feet, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and depressive disorder. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, are found to be incurred in or aggravated by events during his active duty service.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is a result of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, manic depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with his appeal. The Board finds that good cause has been shown for his failure to report.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically Major Depressive Disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from August 17, 2009 to July 21, 2014. The disability did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, major depressive disorder, did not have its onset in service and is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment, but not total social and occupational impairment. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 5, 2009. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder is granted, as his depression began in approximately 2003 when he started Interferon treatment for his hepatitis B.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder had onset during his active service and the Board has determined that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including mood disorder with depression and anxiety, is found to have originated during his period of active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a low back disability with associated sciatica, but new evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder that may be present.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current sleep impairment and mental health issues are related to his military service. The claim for a sleep disorder is reopened.

The Veteran's mood disorder, associated with Graves' disease, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, TBI residuals, migraines, vertigo, cervical disorder, and shoulder disorders have been granted. However, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating. The Board also granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and PTSD were found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating, effective July 14, 2011.

The Veteran's MDD has been granted a 70 percent rating and an effective date of May 29, 2012. The claim for earlier effective date was denied.