Depression decisions — 2016

The RO reduced the disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 40 percent, effective December 1, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include a residual shrapnel wound to the scalp with scar and substernal chest and right upper thigh scars.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as increased ratings for his lower back disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The issue of TDIU was raised but not decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, but his other disabilities do not contribute significantly to this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and adjudication, including consideration of service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and dismissed the pending appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus. The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus at his hearing before the Board in December 2015.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be caused at least in part by his hepatitis B, which he contracted as a result of negligent administration of a colonoscopy. As the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this condition is caused by hepatitis B, and given the Veteran's service connection for hepatitis B, compensation for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to hepatitis B is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar myositis was granted, but the claims for service connection of major depressive disorder and TDIU were denied. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's MDD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, and mood. The current rating of 70 percent is granted for the period prior to December 21, 2012.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to verify a stressor and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding her current employment status and annual income, as well as the need for a functional assessment of her service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and PTSD. The Veteran's testimony at his hearing suggests that he may have had a pre-existing psychiatric condition prior to entering service which could have been aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing and issuance of a statement of the case regarding service connection for a cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and service personnel records. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD (and associated major depression) is granted as his symptoms are related to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including an assessment of whether any current left shoulder disability or psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, and a sleep disorder. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder with schizoaffective disorder remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disability claimed as depression and for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.