Depression decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including depression, was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with other specified depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since October 26, 2015. The impairment is characterized by reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and other issues needing clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder of major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service mental health symptoms and treatment. The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, NOS, based on continuous post-service symptoms that are presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted, secondary to his Bell's palsy and headaches. His Bell's palsy residuals are rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 31, 2002. The effective date for the TDIU claim remains pending as it was previously dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 4, 2001 for service connection of psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder with agoraphobia, panic attacks, and sleep disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims for right upper extremity, left shoulder, and headache disorders have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues are whether he should receive an increased disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and polysubstance dependence, and whether his abdominal and splenic disability, status post splenectomy, is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to December 1, 2009 and increased to 70% as of June 9, 2014. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective June 9, 2014.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal issues, eye problems, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are necessary to address the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service and his service-connected recurrent major depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his depression, head injury, hearing loss, and TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to her service. The VA must obtain a copy of an addendum opinion and any mental health evaluations from her service, as well as lay statements supporting her claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the March 2014 VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection based on inservice sexual assault.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's PTSD with schizophrenia and MDD are related to her military service, including a personal assault. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.