Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been fully resolved by the AOJ's January 2016 rating decision, as he is now in receipt of service connection for depressive disorder effective June 11, 2010. The appeal is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying the relationship between his service-connected depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and additional medical records. The claims for increased evaluation of chronic adjustment disorder with mixed features of anxiety and depression, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, whether any diagnosed conditions are related to service or other factors, and whether any current diagnoses were made in error. The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent effective March 1, 2016, which the Board found improper.,The Veteran's psoriasis has not been rated in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The case has been remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's son, A.N., was not found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday due to various psychiatric and learning disabilities. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to February 6, 2013, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms were considered mild and he was able to maintain social and occupational functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA examination opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, is related to his service-connected disabilities. His PTSD claim cannot be granted as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and mood disorder has been manifested by severe symptoms equivalent in severity to gross impairment in thought processes or communication, resulting in total occupational and social impairment. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to April 9, 2014. After that date, the disability caused more severe impairments warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of depression, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression, and Parkinson's disease was denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.,Service treatment records did not show any signs or symptoms of the claimed disorders during service. The Veteran was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease prior to death but there is no medical evidence linking it to his service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 1, 2015 has been granted. The Veteran is also service-connected for alcohol use disorder in partial remission and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including eosinophilia and hypersensitivity vasculitis, are caused by her use of Dilantin prescribed by VA in July 2001. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was not found to warrant a rating higher than 30 percent prior to October 16, 2015 and not warranted in excess of 70 percent from that date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.