Depression decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is not related to service and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals were denied for various conditions and benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee condition has led to secondary hip, back, and respiratory conditions. The Board granted the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and considering all evidence of record.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of military sexual trauma and denied service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and a depressive disorder, was denied. The claims for hypertension, Alzheimer's disease (claimed as dementia), ischemic heart disease, and SMC based on aid and attendance were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection. However, as personality disorders are not diseases or injuries for VA compensation purposes, the Board denied service connection for Borderline Personality Disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue with his requested hearing.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is found to have been incurred in service, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.,While the Veteran has erectile dysfunction, it was not caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus. The examiner opined that hypogonadism may be more likely the cause of his erectile dysfunction.,New and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), alcoholism, and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on confirmed stressors and found no evidence linking any acquired psychiatric disorder to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed psychosis and has been diagnosed with PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The in-service stressor event is not corroborated by credible supporting evidence, and therefore service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder cannot be established.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as internal hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's conditions are not found to be related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. His lumbar spine disability, rated at 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, has been granted a higher rating based on unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), depressive disorder, tinnitus, and residuals of shrapnel fragment wounds to both legs, have rendered him unemployable due solely to these conditions. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the appeal has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder and depression are related to service or his service-connected disabilities, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been denied as there is no competent and credible evidence establishing the current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed condition of depression.