Depression decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD. The claim for depression was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted, and there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected hearing loss. The Veteran's current mood disturbance is at least as likely as not connected to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are related to service. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot are due to his own willful misconduct, specifically alcohol abuse. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to failure to comply with previous instructions, including a VA psychiatric examination. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for additional review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding insufficient evidence to establish a current disability and attributing any current mental health issues to his personality disorder.

The Board found that any acquired psychiatric disorder is neither related to service nor related to service-connected hepatitis, and therefore denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric condition, including Major Depressive Disorder with symptoms of PTSD and anxiety, finding that it is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, as well as whether they are related to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. As a result, the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from April 14, 2009 to February 4, 2014. His TDIU claim was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's major depression has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent warranting a higher initial rating. The current symptoms include depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbances in motivation, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain service treatment records from Mannheim Army Hospital in Germany. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is now before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and/or schizoaffective disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination. The TDIU claim cannot be evaluated until the PTSD claim is resolved.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression and finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms, including PTSD and depression, and his military service. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service sexual assault corroborates the diagnosis of PTSD.