Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination, as well as development of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's previous claims were denied because his psychiatric disorders did not start in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression will be reconsidered based on this new information.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted as the evidence supports a finding of service connection.,The status of service connection for sleep disorder (sleep apnea) is pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, residuals of tubal ligation, right foot disorder, and glaucoma. The Board found that her current psychiatric symptoms are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected traumatic brain injury and grants service connection for this disability. The TBI residuals are rated at 20%.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and service with the 7th Infantry Division, as well as to determine if there are any additional records that could corroborate his claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since May 15, 2014.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since July 28, 2010. The evidence shows that the condition causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with insomnia was increased to a 50 percent rating effective March 17, 2014. Prior to that date, the Veteran's condition more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD were rated at 70 percent prior to December 7, 2012, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the cause of his upper and lower extremity deficits, including whether they are due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective July 15, 2009.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. New evidence submitted since the last final denial includes statements from the Veteran and witnesses describing in-service events and symptoms, as well as VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of in-service events or conditions that could be linked to his current disabilities. His hearing loss is not compensable, and he does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, or peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50 percent rating, effective from May 30, 2014. The left shoulder disability appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran. The compensable rating for IBS remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities are granted with an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to June 18, 2012, and in excess of 50 percent since then. The claims for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and uterine fibroids have been reopened but not decided.