Depression decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as his renal disorder. The Board found no evidence of such conditions in service or due to service.,Service connection was also denied for tinea pedis and cruris, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected MDD associated with residuals of fracture right tibia and fibula, effective from November 7, 2015.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's previously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities were superimposed upon his personality disorder as a result of service. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, and mood. The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD beginning January 30, 2012.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression, dysthymia, anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total impairment. The VA determined that a 70 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder related to his active service, and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, a mood disorder, and major depressive disorder, due to a personal assault. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Bipolar and claimed as Depressive Disorder, was not present during service or for many years thereafter. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of medical nexus between his military service and his current condition.

The Board finds that the evidence is at equipoise regarding the etiology of the Veteran's dizziness, and grants service connection for dizziness on a secondary basis to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service, and the other conditions are secondary to this disability. The case must be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's diabetes and its relationship to his service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and private psychologist records. The Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD, depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, and an adjustment disorder will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The initial rating claim for PTSD remains pending, as does the TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, depression, and nervousness. The Veteran submitted a medical nexus opinion in December 2010 indicating that it was more probable than not that his major depression was service-connected due to treatment he received in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective November 6, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board. The issues of reopening service connection claims for constricted visual fields, TBI, and major depressive disorder are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lost tooth due to trauma, melanoma, and shoulder disabilities. The decision also found that new evidence did not reopen his claim of service connection for loss of a tooth due to trauma.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is found to have been incurred in service, granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for body fatigue, weakness and pain due to an undiagnosed illness, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, psychiatric disorder (including dementia and depression), and cardiovascular disease (including status post myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure).

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and right knee and ankle disorders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish the required medical diagnoses or link between current conditions and military service.