Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has already granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including recurring major depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. As this issue is moot, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cystic acne and depression, as well as his claim for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are related to his service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting Social Security Administration (SSA) disability decision and related records. The Veteran will also undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature of her psychiatric disorders and their relation, if any, to her service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA records, arranging for a VA pension examination, and explaining whether SSA records show that the Veteran's disabilities prevent him from working.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will reconsider them after obtaining additional STRs.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, and finds that there is sufficient evidence to support this diagnosis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder with associated depressive disorder are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current mental health disorder was not present in service or until many years thereafter, and no competent credible evidence linked it to service. The claims for nerve damage of the right upper extremity and increased rating for residuals of a wrist injury are also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding his psychiatric disabilities and right ear drum perforation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulosis, hypertension, a psychiatric disorder, GERD, and H. Pylori as there is no evidence of their onset or continuity in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating higher than the current 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine the relationship between her psychiatric disorders and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for asthma was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective August 16, 2010. The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder remains at a 50 percent rating. No new housing or home adaptation grant is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are reasonably shown to have aggravated his depression, warranting secondary service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a right knee disorder. The claim to reopen a right knee disorder was also denied. The decision did not address the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but will be rated at 50 percent effective October 19, 2015. The TBI has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of depression, seizure disorder, and TBI have been granted. The Veteran is now service-connected for these conditions.,An extraschedular rating has been assigned for the Veteran's tension headaches.