Depression decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU rating due to additional development of the record and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's initial and increased evaluations for depression were denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of a nexus.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that there is at least a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is also granted.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 18, 2011 for the establishment of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD with major depression and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for asthma and depression are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective April 6, 2010. The Veteran's original claim for depression with memory loss and mood swings was denied in March 2004 and June 2008 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depression, including as secondary to his service-connected left eye condition. The remand also requires consideration of the recent worsening of the left eye condition and its impact on the depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inaccuracies in the Veteran's personnel record and the need for a clarifying opinion regarding the onset of his current delusional disorder, NOS.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and Asperger's syndrome, preexisted service. The evidence clearly shows that these conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a left wrist condition were denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or current diagnosis, respectively. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depression is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD, there is competent medical evidence of a nexus between her PTSD and her claimed in-service stressor, and credible evidence that the stressor occurred. Major depression is also found to be associated with PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of an anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder are related to symptoms experienced during active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for schizophrenia and granted a rating of 30% for coronary artery disease. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be related to her active military service, raising reasonable doubt in favor of her claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The issue of service connection for depression and PTSD is addressed separately.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but did not approximate total occupation and social impairment. The initial rating of 70 percent was granted from December 1, 2008 to October 20, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service and obtain relevant medical records. The claims for service connection and TDIU will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression associated with TBI was granted a 50% rating, effective August 11, 2011. The RO also granted an increased initial rating of 70% for PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorder in December 2015.

The Veteran's GERD and depression associated with lumbar disc disease have been rated based on their current manifestations, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and schizophrenia.