Depression decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, as his cause of death was due to chronic edema/venous stasis and immobility from arthritis. The service-connected disabilities did not play a material role in causing his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action due to incomplete records, including those from VA facilities where the Veteran sought treatment. The Veteran's claims file should be returned to a psychologist for an addendum opinion considering new medical records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and major depressive disorder, was incurred during his period of active duty. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations in accordance with the DSM-5, as well as obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder and depression has been manifested by moderate symptoms including depression, sleep impairment with nightmares, social isolation, auditory and visual hallucinations, mildly impaired short-term memory, irritability, impaired concentration, panic attacks occurring more than once per week, and consistent GAF scores of 55. The criteria for an initial disability rating of 50 percent have been met prior to May 6, 2014; thereafter, the criteria for an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active military service, resulting in the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted. He is also awarded a higher initial rating for urinary frequency, increased ratings for his wrist disabilities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to military service or any event of service origin.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety and depression with features of PTSD are related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, depression, was not incurred in or caused by active service and is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted due to the evidence being at least in relative equipoise as to whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service personal assaults.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 50 percent since October 2009, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, were not related to service or any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a noncompensable rating for left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, myofascial pain syndrome, neurological disabilities of the right and left lower extremities, and depression. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability with high blood pressure was previously denied in May 2011, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran is granted an increased rating of 100 percent for his major depressive disorder.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not service-connected due to lack of credible evidence supporting a stressor event in service and his personality disorder and depressive disorder are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.