Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that a new TBI examination is necessary to clarify whether the Veteran has residuals of his inservice head trauma and, if so, what such residuals are. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, is not service connected as it did not manifest during or due to active military service. The Board finds that the Veteran's depression and anxiety are already contemplated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has caused significant occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically depression, are proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease and have been aggravated by these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder, which was first noted in April 2009 during the current appellate period, is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including addressing a possible secondary service connection claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, a depressive disorder, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to service or any service-connected disability. The VA medical opinions are against a direct and secondary theory of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective from March 6, 2014. No other conditions have been evaluated.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his service-connected right knee and right leg disabilities. His right knee disability is granted an initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, while his right leg disability is also granted a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for stressor verification and additional evidence from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder NOS), left gluteus shell fragment wound, and scar formation in left gluteus have been denied as there is no evidence of a service connection relationship to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, did not have its onset in service or within one year of discharge from service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology and is against a finding of nexus to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and mood disorder. The case is being remanded to allow for a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including depression and ADD/ADHD, were not incurred or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claim was denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting acquired psychiatric disorder, denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as the Veteran does not have a current PTSD diagnosis that conforms to DSM-V, and concluded that his other diagnosed psychiatric disorders did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxiety, has not been etiologically linked to service or any service-connected disability.