Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, specifically recurrent major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, were incurred in service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities and their relation to his active duty service.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 50 percent since December 23, 2003. The combined effects of his service-connected disabilities have made him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore cannot establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his in-service stressors and current psychiatric disability, nor could it be presumed due to exposure to herbicides. For skin disorders, the issue remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, are not service-connected. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service, but there is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for hypertension in service. His acquired psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to military service. Service connection was denied on both direct and secondary bases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of a timely Notice of Disagreement and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining records from Eglin Air Force Base and VA medical records. The claims for PTSD, depression, and heart condition are intertwined with the claim for service connection of a scar from heart surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are consistent with his service and have established a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for this disorder, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to establish the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability with associated surgical scar and nerve damage. Therefore, no further development is required.

The Board has ordered a remand due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and depression. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis is rated at 30 percent, and his service-connected MDD is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 23, 2011 or since that date.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected gastritis with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and depressive disorder with sleep problems, which prevent him from working.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a bilateral foot disability or an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression. The evidence does not demonstrate that his current conditions had their onset during service, were related to service, or are otherwise etiologically linked.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, has been rated at 70 percent since January 8, 2013. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects her symptoms.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder from December 29, 2008 to March 14, 2012 is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The disability meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating.