Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's major depressive disorder prior to September 18, 2015 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's MDD was productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating from April 2, 2015.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has had a current diagnosis of anxiety at any time during the pendency of this appeal, and also against a finding that an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) was initially manifested during or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address certain findings on service separation examination.

The Veteran's claim for a right ankle disability, allergic rhinitis, arthritis of the left leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The TDIU claim was also not addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records, arrange for examinations, and provide an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service dates and obtain relevant medical records, particularly those from Maxwell Air Force Base Hospital. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and personality disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left knee replacements and limited range of motion in the left ankle, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His acquired psychiatric disability is also service connected as secondary to his orthopedic conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and preparing an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to address whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for depression and anxiety, and it is denied. The Veteran's claims for PTSD are also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since August 26, 2014.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 10, 2008 for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is denied.

The Board found insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of military sexual trauma and concluded that her current psychiatric disorders are not causally or etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Asperger's syndrome, and depressive disorder, has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder was not manifested during her active military service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to her active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of low back disability, left lower extremity numbness, right lower extremity numbness, and left upper extremity numbness. The initial evaluation for fracture of the right little finger was granted with a 10% rating. Service connection for TBI prior to October 23, 2008, and PTSD since that date were both granted with increased ratings. Finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted prior to December 20, 2010. Special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status (SMC/HB) was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and hypertensive heart disease have been granted, but the rating for hypertensive heart disease remains at 30 percent. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be incurred in service.