Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a Social Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being reviewed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a depressive disorder is not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected acne. The evidence does not show a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, to include anxiety disorder, has been rated at 30 percent since February 8, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depression contributed to his death from atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease due to hypertensive heart disease. The Board finds that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are of service origin.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including searching for in-service hospitalization records and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with secondary depression and anxiety, based on credible evidence of in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to military service and denies his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected headaches and cervical spine degenerative disc disease ratings.,The Court remanded the issue of TDIU due to the failure to consider whether the appellant is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to November 5, 2014, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. The initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse remains at 30 percent, and the appeals for other conditions were not addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 20, 2015, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his claimed in-service head injuries. The VA will seek verification of these incidents from official sources.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, dysthymic disorder, and polysubstance dependence. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for secondary stomach disorder. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD and MDD, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, and back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, arthritis of the cervical spine, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spinal disabilities.