Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tension headaches with chronic fatigue are rated at 30 percent prior to October 25, 2016 and increased to 50 percent effective from October 25, 2016. The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder with alcohol use is currently rated at 70 percent since August 10, 2011.,The Veteran's tension headaches with chronic fatigue are rated at 30 percent prior to March 3, 2008 and increased to 50 percent effective from March 3, 2008. The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder with alcohol use is currently rated at 70 percent since August 10, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of his reopened claim on February 2, 2009.,Both right shoulder and lower back disabilities were reopened based on new evidence submitted since the January 2007 rating decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with a related major depression and episodic alcohol abuse condition more likely than not contributed to his death from a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) resulting from a pericallosal aneurysm.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in symptoms such as mood disturbances, avoidance, irritability, sleep disturbances, and difficulty in establishing social relationships. The VA determined that these symptoms warrant a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and Social Security Administration records. The Board will then review the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which was originally filed in March 2009.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and depressive disorder), including adjustment disorder with anxiety, is not service connected as it is a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder. Night sweats are also not service connected as they are attributed to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is also advised that evidence from sources other than service records may corroborate an account of a stressor incident based on personal assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, is not causally related to or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since February 4, 2006 and a TDIU is granted from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension) is commensurate with marked interference with employment and presents an exceptional disability picture warranting a 10 percent extra-schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection for depression or cerebral palsy, and therefore denied both claims. The Appellant is presumed to have entered service in sound condition regarding his psychiatric health.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks prior to September 22, 2014. The rating assigned is 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating since November 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since March 10, 2010. The Board found that the disability picture during this period approximated occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date and service connection, finding that he did not have a current hearing loss disability of either ear. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Board also did not address his claim for treatment purposes under Chapter 17 as it was not properly presented.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the issue was fully granted in a February 2015 rating decision.