Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's psychiatric disability did not result in more than mild social and industrial impairment between June 13, 1988, and August 15, 1995. For the period from August 16, 1995, to July 22, 1999, it resulted in definite industrial impairment; or occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. For the period from July 23, 1999, to May 18, 2006, it did not result in more than definite industrial impairment; or more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, and dysthymia, is at least as likely as not causally related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since May 16, 2009, with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty in understanding complex commands, poor judgment and impaired abstract thinking.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected dysthymic disorder with persistent depressive disorder, and for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 90%, meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not etiologically related to service and did not manifest within a year of separation, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II is not related to service and denied her claim. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim was remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD and PTSD, are related to his reported in-service stressors/military service and/or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for further development. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's lung cancer is found to be related to asbestos exposure during service.,There is no evidence of a distinct sleep disorder separate from the Veteran's MDD.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral interstitial fibrosis and PTSD, did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 6, 2012.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence of a diagnosis prior to August 31, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD and depression, as there is no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiners have consistently found no diagnoses of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, was manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to December 4, 2014.

The Board has found service connection for residuals of TBI, a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as major depressive disorder), and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was granted, and service connection for a heart disability including ischemic heart disease due to claimed inservice herbicide exposure was also granted. The effective date for the PTSD rating remains October 10, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that there is no evidence of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's bilateral shin splints are not manifested by at least moderate knee or ankle disability, or moderately severe muscle injury. Therefore, the current noncompensable ratings for left and right leg shin splints are denied.