Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for service connection for depression is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, proper VCAA notice, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has been notified of the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 2, 2012 for a 100 percent rating for service-connected depressive disorder NOS is denied as it was first factually ascertainable that the criteria for such a rating had been met on December 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder and whether it is related to service or microwave radiation exposure.

The Veteran currently has a psychiatric disability that is shown by competent lay and medical evidence to be causally related to his military service, thus warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a missed VA examination. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms may have worsened since his last examination, so another examination is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded that the current depression is more likely due to a motor vehicle accident and subsequent financial issues.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at 50 percent since October 26, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for her service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since January 20, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating and denied claims for service connection for PTSD, depression NOS, anxiety disorder NOS, dysthymic disorder, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, or TDIU.

The Veteran's current diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of a valid stressor, but new evidence was submitted that reopened the claim.

The Veteran's mood disorder, including PTSD and depression related to hearing loss, has been rated at 50 percent since January 13, 2010. The symptoms have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that Appellant's character of discharge from service is a bar to his receipt of VA benefits due to dishonorable conditions, as there is no evidence of insanity at the time of the offenses resulting in his bad conduct discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted as it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anemia, sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, and GERD have been granted with a noncompensable initial rating for hypertension.