Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective May 15, 2013. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, and he has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are at least as likely as not related to service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The evidence does not show that his disability has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity comparable to those listed for a 70 or 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and inadequacies of the November 2010 VA examination. A new VA examination by a different VA psychologist or psychiatrist is needed to determine the nature and etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS and major depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since November 4, 2013. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board found that the February 1994 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension, left lower extremity weakness, low back pain, hearing loss, cervical spine disability, depressive disorder, and headaches was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors and a VA examination is needed to clarify his current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, has been reopened. Further development is needed before the Board can adjudicate his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected right middle finger osteoarthritis aggravated his claimed psychiatric disorder, major depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of his Reserve service dates and types, as well as VA examinations to determine the relationship between his current sleep apnea and depression with any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression, finding that there is no evidence linking his current depression to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's insomnia, depression and hypertension are related to his service-connected tinnitus. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new examinations, and determining the appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a mood disorder (claimed as depression) secondary to the Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder, effective February 10, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 30% for traumatic arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the left knee beginning April 6, 2015. He also received a compensable rating (30%) for residual scar, status-post cyst excision of the left calf effective April 6, 2015.