Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's PFB is also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of February 10, 2006. This followed his timely submission of a statement in support of claim on November 4, 2008, which the RO accepted as a petition to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity, as evidenced by multiple hospitalizations and inability to manage personal finances.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depression, is found to be the result of witnessing a military sexual trauma. The residuals of fractured third finger with arthritis of the right hand are also found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to her military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The Veteran's daughter died during his active duty, which may be related to the current mental health issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is at least as likely as not related to her service, including her in-service sexual assault and giving up a child for adoption. The Board also found that her depression was aggravated by her service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, is related to his military service. The VA will conduct a medical examination and provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The decision also remands the issues of service connection for pulmonary nodules.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected depressive disorder and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety is related to his in-service injury, resulting in service connection being granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the combined impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease and depression are not service connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his military service, specifically witnessing the Ramstein Airshow Disaster in 1988. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety have resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating since April 18, 2014.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders are found to be causally related to his service-connected left testicular atrophy, specifically due to the infertility resulting from his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors, including a search and rescue operation involving drowning children, were not verified. As such, service connection for PTSD could not be established.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression from November 21, 2003, through June 1, 2010, produced significant occupational and social impairment warranting a 70 percent disability rating.