Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's MDD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board has found that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU. The evidence shows significant impairment in social functioning but no total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is now before the Board.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding causal linkage between service-connected acne and a current acquired psychiatric pathology, to include adjustment disorder with depressive features and generalized anxiety disorder. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service due to lack of verified stressors. The Veteran did not engage in combat and there is no credible evidence supporting his allegations of witnessing prisoner beatings during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that may be present, including unspecified depressive disorder, panic disorder, insomnia, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorder and mood disorder. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether such acquired psychiatric disorder at least as likely as not had its onset in service or is causally related to an event in service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidence, including a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, is now before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depression have been granted. The Board has also determined that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by his active service, as were his preexisting depressive disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are related to his active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to June 13, 2013. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, has been granted service connection due to his combat experience in the Persian Gulf War. The Board found that his symptoms are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, is not etiologically related to his active service. The weight of the competent evidence did not support a finding that schizophrenia with paranoia began during or was otherwise caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder, is not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a scheduling issue, and the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart problems, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's undiagnosed depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is now rated at 50 percent since September 24, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 26, 2014. The effective date for this rating is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of a mood disorder and depressive disorder were not related to his service, including as secondary to PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inextricably intertwined issues and insufficient evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for depressive disorder, NOS as it was not incurred or aggravated during active duty.,The Board also finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hypertension as it did not become disabling within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted due to his service-connected disabilities, with a 100% rating for major depressive disorder since November 13, 2014.