Depression decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim. The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic attacks and depression is presumed to have had its onset during military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been evaluated based on their direct effects, without any presumption or secondary service connection. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, with the Board finding that his current psychiatric disorders are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected toe disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed unspecified depressive disorder represents a 'neurobehavioral effect' of exposure to contaminated water during his service at Camp Lejeune from 1975 to 1976.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. His bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and that any diagnosed psychiatric condition did not have a causal relationship to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.,The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and right wrist disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, and a bilateral leg disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has rendered him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his current acquired psychiatric disorder to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to in-service sexual assaults.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective May 2, 2014. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.,The Veteran seeks higher evaluations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with service connection established for multiple conditions including multiple sclerosis with rosacea, pain, weakness in all joints, optic neuritis, depression with anxiety, chronic fatigue, chronic migraines, and insomnia. Service connection was also established for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knee (claimed as right and left knee surgery with chronic pain), intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as low back pain), and hirsutism with fibroids and ovarian cysts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development of his service connection and TDIU claims, including obtaining records from in-patient treatment during active duty, VA treatment records, and verification of stressor events. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for private treatment providers to release their records.

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection of HIV and associated depression were granted on March 6, 2000. The effective dates for these grants are also March 6, 2000.,Prior to January 3, 2014, the Veteran was awarded a 50 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected depression associated with HIV.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are found to be the primary causes of his diagnosed depressive disorder with anxious distress features. The Board grants service connection for this acquired psychiatric disability on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome was withdrawn. The claim of service connection for heat urticaria remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen it.