Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his active service and depressive disorder secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorder, as these conditions are linked to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of VA treatment records from 1996 to 2011 and an addendum opinion by a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including a new VA examination and review of additional VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is not causally related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or major depressive disorder and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is denied, but grants service connection for a depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his in-service stressors and mental health issues.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD and allergic rhinitis do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete development and the need for an updated VA Form 21-8940, as well as a new addendum opinion regarding his occupational functioning. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness. Service connection for depression secondary to IBS is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 15, 2005, for the award of service connection for a depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is dismissed. The Board has also granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing as requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and denied the remaining claims. Diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure, while the other conditions are not supported by evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, increased rating for left wrist and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, increased rating for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, TDIU, earlier effective dates for ratings and SMC. The decision also found that the reduction in the rating for the thoracolumbar spine was improper.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was granted with an effective date of September 18, 2013. The grant of SMC based on housebound status also had an effective date of September 18, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including other trauma and stressor-related disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, are related to his military service. However, PTSD is not found to be present as a result of service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder were rated at 30 percent prior to September 1, 2015, and increased to 50 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other disorders such as depressive disorder and adjustment disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.