Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression and headaches, prevented him from working as of March 27, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants TDIU effective March 27, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is included in the appeal due to evidence of other psychiatric diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran was rendered unemployable as of May 21, 2013, solely due to his multiple service-connected disabilities and this has continued unabated since that point in time.

The Board has expanded the claim on appeal to include any mental disability that may reasonably be encompassed by the Veteran's description of the claim, reported symptoms, and other information in the record. The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and determine the current severity of his PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS. The issue of a TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no evidence of a psychosis/mental illness within two years after discharge from active duty. The claim for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of supporting evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, NOS is rated at 70 percent effective October 20, 2014.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 14, 2008. The disability picture more closely approximates a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on her service-connected major depression has been granted, with an effective date of the Board's May 2013 decision.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since March 8, 2012. The symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, mood, and ability to establish effective relationships.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the inadequacy of the January 2015 examination, which did not address other psychiatric diagnoses and did not provide an adequate rationale for its conclusion.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 2, 2009. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability since that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

For the period prior to May 11, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD with major depression was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,From May 11, 2011 onwards, the disability picture has been characterized by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's memory loss disability is distinct from his diagnosed depressive disorder and related to service. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination.