Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for major depression remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and its impact on employment. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been granted increased ratings of 50 percent effective April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with communication and the need for a hearing. The claim includes service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, PTSD, and substance abuse.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right hands) has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating for service-connected depressive disorder have been met since January 9, 2013, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders first manifested in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's back disorder is service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorders and breathing problems are not.,His left elbow disorder was resolved in-service. His acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) secondary to migraines is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim is not prior to the assigned effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee Osgood-Schlatter disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder and depressive disorder) as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service, and the medical evidence did not support a finding of a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding his current diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder NOS.

The Veteran's claim for anxiety disorder was reopened and granted. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is related to active service.,Service connection for PTSD is not established because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder with major depressive-like episode, is proximately due to service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, depressive disorder NOS, and major depressive disorder with anxious features, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused or hastened by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service, and specifically does not find evidence of a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to incomplete development of records. The Veteran will be provided with a supplemental statement of the case after any additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,VA did not find any fault on their part for the Veteran's post-operative pain resulting from hemorrhoid surgery.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant was permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18 and granted his claim for VA benefits as a helpless child.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to August 22, 2011 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent from August 22, 2011 to the present.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his service.