Depression decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The Veteran's diagnosed depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for hypertension has not been established as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of hypertension during service and there is no evidence showing that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health disorders (Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD) have resulted in a combined rating of 100% since February 16, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 16, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further examination. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, will be evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to her service-connected disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board now finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether a depressive disorder began in service or was otherwise caused by service-connected migraines.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for gall bladder disorder, lung disease, lipoma, ulcer, prostate cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), and tinnitus have been granted. The decision is based on direct service connection due to the Veteran's credible reports of symptom onset within one year post-service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for depression. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and found new and material evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for this condition as it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,The Veteran's headaches, a residual of his TBI, are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, military personnel records, and corroborating the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder NOS and another examination to determine the combined effects of his disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and verification of in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder and PTSD are related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and hepatitis C, as secondary to PTSD. The claims are being remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with opiate dependence is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. For the period prior to May 30, 2012, he was granted a 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability and a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee with scars and limitation of motion in extension.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disability (glaucoma), depression, left hip disability, left ring finger infection, hemorrhoids, and kidney stones. The new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pinguecula and dry eyes were found to primarily manifest as eye dryness with intermittent visual difficulty, without any indication of disfigurement. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating was denied. For the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits has been remanded due to the need to consider his service-connected major depressive disorder in determining whether he is eligible for further training.