Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, has been dismissed as she withdrew the appeal through her representative in January 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain an injury or event related to an acquired psychiatric disorder during service, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and/or bilateral flatfoot. The claim for an increased rating for low back strain is also granted, with a current rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various mental health conditions, including PTSD, tinnitus, a sleep disorder, alcohol abuse, and depression. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (excluding adjustment disorder, personality disorder, and disabilities manifested by nervousness and/or memory loss).

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and incompetent cervix are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims file.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a depression disability that is etiologically related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically tinnitus. The claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, did not manifest until years after active service and are unrelated to military service.

The Veteran is seeking to continue her vocational rehabilitation benefits, but the VA has discontinued them. The Board will review the case and determine if there are any new or material evidence that could support reopening of her claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's major depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right inguinal hernia repair.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD related to military service and his non-PTSD psychiatric disorders are not linked to his service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, are not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address whether any psychiatric disability is related to service or caused by the service-connected left femur disability. The issues remain before the Board but are not yet ready for appellate review.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, and ADD/ADHD. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again with additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling since April 23, 2015. The rating period for this condition spans from January 27, 2009 to the present.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder NOS. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are granted. Service connection is established for hand tremors, bilateral wrist disability, reactive arthritis with sacroiliitis residuals, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right shoulder inferior labral tear with acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease. Increased evaluations are assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 70 percent since December 29, 2004 to September 15, 2009. The Board granted this rating based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records. The case will be reviewed to determine if the requested benefits are granted.