Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to August 16, 2013 were rated at 70 percent for PTSD with depression. These conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical impairments.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected bronchial asthma, has been reopened. The Board finds that the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and thus denies it.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 31, 2008, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from June 6, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and incomplete information, including service treatment records, VCAA notice response, VA examination report, and private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is now pending with the Baltimore RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection for sleep disorder and depression secondary to tinnitus, as well as a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request by the appellant's authorized representative.

PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo were rated at 70 percent prior to October 31, 2012.,PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo were rated at 70 percent from October 31, 2012 to November 30, 2014, and 100 percent thereafter.,PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo caused total occupational and social impairment, rendering the Veteran unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the relationship between his acquired psychiatric disorder and his service-connected perineum scar.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's original claim was denied in 1994, and no additional evidence has been provided within one year of that decision.

The Veteran's lumbar discogenic disease is currently rated at 40 percent effective May 19, 2015.,Headaches are currently rated at 30 percent effective June 8, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not service-connected as it is considered a direct result of his military experiences. The bilateral foot disability was found to be preexisting and not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since April 4, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code. Additionally, the Veteran withdrew his claim for a compensable rating for cognitive disorder NOS prior to the decision being made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected neck and bilateral upper extremity disabilities. The decision grants this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for depression and an effective date earlier than April 17, 2013, for the grant of service connection for depression was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for depression, arthritis, and right shoulder pain are dismissed as the Veteran died before a decision could be made on these issues. The appeal for an increased disability rating for hepatitis C is also dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and bilateral eye disabilities. The evidence received since the February 1990 rating decision is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment is full-time and he has maintained it throughout the period on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, were not caused or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against her claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD, but his first three stressors occurred during service. The VA examiner concluded he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for depression and an acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes depressive disorder NOS).