Depression decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depression and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are found to be related to his in-service stressor, which involved witnessing a friend commit suicide while serving at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as GERD, have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his personality disorder and associated depressive disorder, which were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board granted a TDIU effective December 4, 2013, and denied service connection for residuals of head injury and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's request for a change to his Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) was granted because the current vocational goal is no longer reasonably feasible due to increased severity of PTSD symptomatology. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has significantly impacted his ability to secure employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a TBI, including post-concussion syndrome, anxiety and depression, were incurred in or otherwise resulted from military service. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2009, warrants a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Veteran is not unemployable solely due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence to decide his claim.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD and PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is granted, but the maximum benefit available is not yet reached.

The Veteran's MDD with paranoia is currently rated at 70 percent disabling prior to March 9, 2010. This rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective January 16, 2013. The appeal remains on hold as the TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran currently has a depressive disorder, to include symptoms of anxiety, secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and concluded that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, NOS, is not related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, to include depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied by the Board. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's depression was caused or aggravated by his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's application for a VA clothing allowance was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not include a cervical spine disability that would warrant the use of an orthopedic appliance requiring a clothing allowance.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 23, 1997 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to November 2, 2000 is remanded.

The Veteran seeks to have his son, E.B. IV, recognized as a 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 due to mental and/or physical disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse was rated at 50 percent prior to July 25, 2011. From July 25, 2011 to February 19, 2015, the rating increased to 70 percent. Since February 19, 2015, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, must be remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.