Depression decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a bilateral knee disorder that was secondary to his service-connected left foot disability. The Veteran's claimed stressors were not substantiated.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with depression and assigned a 70 percent disability rating effective February 20, 2015. The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of September 24, 2006 for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran was granted service connection for depressive disorder, IBS, and left leg reflex sympathetic dystrophy effective February 14, 2005. The Board found that the effective dates should be September 14, 1994.,The Veteran initially filed claims for these conditions in 1994-1995, with service connection granted based on new evidence received after her initial claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing a psychosis manifested within one year following separation from service and the Veteran did not provide any credible evidence linking his current psychiatric disability to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the level of impairment caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, and will schedule an examination upon remand. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with a depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating of PTSD and a request for an effective date prior to June 27, 2011. The case is being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a separate diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service injury during INACDUTRA.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's posttraumatic headaches with an initial evaluation of 30 percent from July 14, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development due to the need for updated medical evaluations of her service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and dysthymic disorder, as well as her fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative bone disease, lung disorder (granulomata of the lungs with COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, headaches, depression as secondary to other medical conditions, flat feet, low back disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's depression prior to October 15, 2015 was productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Since October 15, 2015, the Veteran's depression has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is causally or etiologically related to his period of honorable military service. The symptoms are more likely attributable to his dishonorable service following his conviction for indecent acts and liberties with a minor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to confirm the Veteran's reported stressors, obtain private treatment records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus with hypertension, diabetic retinopathy with loss of visual acuity and fields, and erectile dysfunction have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 5, 2011, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.