Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an additional acquired psychiatric condition other than depression and anxiety, as well as his heart condition, have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability was denied. The Board also found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 10, 2016.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 60 percent since December 3, 2015. The issue of a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder remains pending and will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and left ear hearing loss. The claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened based on new evidence, but service connection was not granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The case will be remanded for further examination and adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection for depression could be decided as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is attributable to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records from Frankfurt Army Hospital in Germany and reviewing Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to clarify his most appropriate diagnosis and determine whether his current psychiatric disorder(s) are causally related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been productive of occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected history of rheumatic fever was withdrawn. The claim for secondary service connection for anxiety is denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depression is denied. The claim for a compensable rating for service-connected Bell's palsy is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is not complete and requires additional development, including obtaining missing records from his VA treatment history and service personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran. The claim for an initial compensable rating for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with panic disorder and depression has resulted in persistent sleep impairment, severe depression and anxiety, and impaired impulse control. The disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation during the entire course of his claim and appeal.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent rating since December 1, 2007.

The Veteran's psychophysiological reaction of the respiratory system with bronchial asthma was rated at 100% effective July 2, 2010.,Depressive disorder associated with asthma has been rated at 70% since December 20, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee was also denied. The TDIU claim is addressed separately.

The Veteran's tuberculosis, which was incurred in service and contributed to his death from metastatic lung cancer, has been found to have substantially or materially contributed to the cause of death. The issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder and entitlement to a TDIU on the basis of substitution are remanded.