Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, a Personality Disorder with a Superimposed Mood Disorder (Unspecified Depressive Disorder), is not service-connected as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is linked to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to a confirmed in-service stressor remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically a major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder, had their onset during service. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private medical records, as well as a need for additional development of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, nightmare disorder, depression, insomnia, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a spine condition, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including substance-induced mood disorder and depression), and entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluation and TDIU was denied. The temporary total rating claim due to hospitalization in excess of 21 days was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depression, dysthymic disorder, adjustment disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination under DSM-V criteria and clarification of the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with dementia, effective April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his symptoms being within the range of normal hearing. For insomnia, the Board found that it was aggravated by active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service along the border with Soviet bloc nations in Europe during the Cold War. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a diagnosis of PTSD due to fear of hostile military action, which is sufficient to verify the occurrence of the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence, including recent VA examination reports. The issues on appeal are whether he should receive a higher rating for his service-connected traumatic brain injury and persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since October 2007, and his low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 3, 2003. Both conditions have been granted effective from January 24, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 30, 2012 for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is April 30, 2012. For his rating claim and TDIU claim, the Veteran's psychiatric condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depression. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected residuals of left quadriceps muscle tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and substance abuse disability are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other chronic acquired psychiatric disorder related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), hemorrhoids, stomach ulcer, acid reflux, and sinusitis. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.