Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling for each extremity. The appeal regarding the increased evaluations for generalized anxiety disorder, left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome has been resolved.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The evidence received since the last denial supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's military service does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for VA home loan benefits because he was discharged from active duty service due to reasons other than a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a new VA opinion on whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorder is proximately due to or caused by her service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent prior to May 3, 2007. The Board granted this rating and denied a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's symptoms of depression, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbance of motivation and mood, suicidal ideation, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances are symptoms of his already service-connected nightmare disorder (also claimed as PTSD). There is no separate disability for residuals associated with a TBI.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed depressive disorder is related to his service-connected tinnitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and adjustment disorder. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the presence of current psychiatric disorders and their relationship to her active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was not shown to be related to service or secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or depressive disorder, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, due to head injury. The Veteran's diagnoses of depression and anxiety are considered part of his existing service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow the RO to review additional medical evidence and consider extraschedular ratings for his service-connected conditions, including depression, gout, neck disability, back disability, and right knee disability. The TDIU claim will also be further developed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and depression prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected migraine headache disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression NOS, and anxiety disorder NOS, are found to be related to his military service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.