Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent for plantar calluses effective February 20, 2015. Service connection for heart condition and diabetes mellitus are also granted as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depression, is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right ear hearing loss disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection based on secondary service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD with anxiety and depression is related to his military service, placing the evidence in equipoise and granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors as marked interference with employment, and thus denied extraschedular consideration for PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, had its onset during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's use of assistive devices to ambulate is due to a combination of service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, not solely from his service-connected conditions. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment as of April 25, 2011, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to September 2, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with secondary depressive disorder has been found to result in occupational and social impairment that more nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas, including work, social relations, and mood. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective April 19, 2016. The TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of April 19, 2016.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder since July 31, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The case will be reviewed after these are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a scar of the right breast mass, status post gynecomastia removal, was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The remaining claims for service connection for PTSD and an umbilical hernia are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is due to his service-connected right ring finger amputation and residuals of a crush injury of the right hand, and he has a separate sleep disorder that is at least as likely related to his service-connected conditions. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, are being reviewed for service connection. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain disability is considered service-connected. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with anxiety disorder and major depression, meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating but not higher.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are found to be attributable to service, warranting service connection.