Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 22, 2011, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The issues of entitlement to increases in the 'staged' ratings assigned for PTSD and TDIU remain unresolved as they are not adjudicated by the AOJ. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMP based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since April 14, 2006. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including personality disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia. The Veteran provided new evidence that supports reopening his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting new examinations to assess his service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and cluster headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service dates and obtain her medical records. The issues of service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability, including residuals of bilateral shin splints and stress fractures; an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression; and a bilateral shoulder disability are currently in remand status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a sleep disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide another VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected depression and for a combined effects medical opinion regarding his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, mood disorder and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the inability of the Veteran to complete a VA examination due to an outstanding warrant. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to appear for a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is not productive of total occupational and social impairment. The current 50 percent rating for the condition remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, have been reopened. However, service connection is not granted as there is no verified in-service stressor or credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II has also been denied due to lack of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) after further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is not related to his period of active duty training (ADT) in 1974. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current mental health condition is causally related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain a full copy of his divorce decree and an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology and progress of his cognitive disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression and PTSD has been granted, with a rating assigned at 30% effective from the date of receipt of the application.