Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 10 percent rating effective January 28, 2010. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied. His claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was also denied.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, finding that the schedular rating criteria reasonably described his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The appeal is now pending again with the VA.

The Board determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and were not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination by a psychiatrist to determine the relationship between the Veteran's major depressive disorder and any in-service event or illness, as well as whether it is related to her service-connected left ovarian cyst. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depression is not related to his first period of active duty service and does not result from or worsen his service-connected disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and GERD, as well as service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The effective date of these decisions is October 12, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who provided the April 2014 opinion. The addendum opinion must address if any diagnosed psychiatric disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed the Veteran's active duty and, if so, whether any identified disability was not aggravated thereby.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression. The reopened claim will now be reviewed de novo by the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and insomnia as secondary to PTSD. The remaining acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety not otherwise specified, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, and cannabis dependence, are being considered on a secondary basis.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 70 percent rating for depression, effective from September 1, 2010. The reduction was not based on material improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or was caused by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective January 15, 2013.

The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for his service-connected mental health and musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these disabilities, as well as obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as bipolar affective disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining records related to his military sexual trauma (MST), personnel records from his active service, and a VA examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist. The examiner must address the Veteran's alleged MST event, alcoholism during service, assessment for irritability and anger in May 1982, and self-medication with alcohol.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are found to be related to a personal assault during service.,Migraine headaches are determined to be secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder. This includes obtaining private treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.