Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD, along with depression and alcohol use disorder, resulted in total occupational and social impairment from June 30, 2001 through July 26, 2007. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service, and to obtain a current evaluation of his thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran has been awarded compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional psychiatric/cognitive disability and major depressive disorder with anxious distress resulting from emergency cardiopulmonary bypass with coronary artery bypass graft with reserve saphenous vein graft performed in August 2009 at VAMC Oklahoma City.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service or within one year thereafter.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, alcoholism, or posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but the Board concluded that the current condition is less likely due to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an undeliverable hearing notice and will schedule a new videoconference hearing at the Regional Office.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sciatic nerve disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression and/or anxiety) as secondary to his low back disability. The decision found that there was no nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU rating. However, the more probative evidence does not support an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations for his PTSD, major depressive disorder, mechanical cervical muscle strain, and mechanical lumbar strain have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a neurological examination.

The Veteran's major depression disability was manifested by symptoms consistent with a 50 percent evaluation prior to January 18, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate VA opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to PTSD and issuing a supplemental statement of the appeal (SSOC) addressing the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with major depression, was rated at 30 percent disabling from February 17, 1983 to November 6, 2000.

The Veteran's claims for evaluations of his psychiatric disorders, lumbar strain, right ring and little finger degenerative joint disease, left shoulder tendonitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left ankle strain, and left foot plantar fasciitis from February 1, 2010 to September 6, 2011 were denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is granted, with an initial disability rating of 70 percent effective from the date of service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to ensure the Veteran's claims for service connection are evaluated using the correct diagnostic criteria and to obtain any necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for ED, a left wrist condition, a left ankle condition, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) due to their interrelated nature. The claim of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran does not have a permanent total service-connected disability, and therefore does not meet the criteria for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of Title 38 U.S.C.A.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected due to noise exposure during active duty. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and IHD are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from September 15, 2010 to July 24, 2015. The appeal for service connection for pancreatitis has been withdrawn. A TDIU claim is pending.