Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination and updated medical records. The TDIU claim may be inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety) due to his in-service experiences. The claim for fibromyalgia/joint pain involving the shoulders, knees and hands is considered as part of this grant. The issue regarding non-service connected pension benefits remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (insomnia and depression), numbness of bilateral upper arms, headaches, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine prior to August 20, 2009 and after October 31, 2009 are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a 100% evaluation. The Board found an increased rating of 50% prior to May 11, 2012, and 70% thereafter.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include panic disorder, manic-depressive disorder, agoraphobia with panic, and anxiety disorder, related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for a concussion is remanded as additional evidence was submitted after the statement of the case was issued.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address all requested opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating since February 4, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a dorsal spine disability, degenerative lumbar spine disorder, head injury/traumatic brain injury, memory loss, right ear and eye fluttering, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), cervical spine disability, left leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, pulmonary disability to include asbestosis, generalized arthritis, right leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, and migraine headaches have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a direct connection between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depression are related to his active duty service, thus service connection is granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral polyneuropathies.

The Board has determined that there is no credible medical evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability, including major depression and anxiety. As such, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include major depression and anxiety, is denied.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder prior to August 9, 2012 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected major depressive disorder, right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice of her scheduled video hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 29, 2009. The disability results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. Depression is considered part of the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for sinusitis and pansinusitis, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6510. A separate 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis was granted effective December 8, 2015.