Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on several conditions and special monthly compensation (SMC) have been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent effective May 22, 2014. Prior to that date, the claim for an increased rating was granted but not yet assigned a specific percentage.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability incurred or aggravated by service, and the Veteran's current depressive disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including scheduling a hearing. The Veteran's claims of reopening PTSD and service connection for depression are pending.

The Veteran's alcoholism and drug addiction are deemed to be the result of his own willful misconduct, resulting in a denial of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling since April 21, 2011. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted. The Board finds that her current depression disability may be related to her military experiences, including witnessing injuries and deaths during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression/anxiety). However, the claim of service connection for these conditions remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing in-service onset or a nexus between current diagnoses and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD and Depression, is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his military service and stressor allegations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and depression are related to his service, including exposure to combat. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The RO found that the evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for new and material evidence. For the knee issues, the RO determined that prior to November 23, 2015, the Veteran's right and left knee strains did not cause either a compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine if service connection can be granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnosis, including PTSD, is related to his service and has been linked by competent medical evidence to a verified in-service stressor event. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder began during his military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected TBI or any other head injury during service, and the Veteran's current symptoms are not linked to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disability is also not connected to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining her SSA records and providing an addendum VA examination to address the severity of her service-connected psychiatric disability and whether she can secure or follow a substantially-gainful occupation.