Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, commensurate with his education and employment background.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with associated depression. The Veteran's PTSD with associated depression is awarded an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a December 2015 evaluation from a psychotherapist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, did not have their onset in active service or are related to such service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing private treatment records and issue an SOC for the claims of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected depression from May 1, 2006 to February 13, 2008 was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residuals of cysts and adhesions of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, status post lysis and left salpingo-oophorectomy, is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case to consider new evidence and conduct a new examination due to the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's depression is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The benign growth of the lung (BGL), diagnosed as pulmonary aspergillosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is at least as likely as not etiologically related to service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The issues of an increased rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and alcohol, cannabis, and opiate abuse in remission, and entitlement to TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and second degree burn scars related to his active duty service is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining complete service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder and traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of March 7, 2012. The Board granted this claim on appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of an increased rating for psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction with associated chronic panic disorder, depressive disorder, and history of tremors prior to April 19, 2013, and a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and granted it. The claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD, is now reopened for consideration.,Bilateral hearing loss is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental health examination to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety/depression, that are related to service. The AOJ should also obtain all relevant VA and private clinical documentation concerning the Veteran's treatment of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a prostate/scrotal disability were denied. The Board found that the in-service stressors for PTSD could not be verified, and his unspecified depressive disorder was not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, or any other condition listed in his claims. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are not related to his military service. The low back disability was also denied.