Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's disability rating meets schedular requirements for TDIU, but further evidentiary development is required to assess the extent of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for an addendum opinion regarding his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a new VA examination for his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder, but her symptoms were severe enough to warrant a 70% rating from May 9, 2005 through September 8, 2009. For the period of April 28, 2003 through May 8, 2005, she was granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service-connected IBS.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and clarification of the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressor of military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from March 31, 2006 to September 29, 2011. The Board denied the earlier effective date claim as well as the TDIU claim for this period.

The Veteran's eye disability, memory loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in service and are not related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic intermittent neck muscle strain with C5-6 spurring was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision.,The reduction in the rating for PTSD from 70 percent to 30 percent, effective April 1, 2014, is considered improper and the original rating of 70 percent is restored. The November 2014 rating that increased the PTSD rating to 50 percent remains valid.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and depression are related to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish actual, maintained improvement in the Veteran's major depressive disorder and thus denied the reduction from a 100% to a 30% rating effective April 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder has been granted. The initial rating of 70 percent is in effect since April 28, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for dysthymic disorder with anxiety features, also claimed as anxiety and depression, to include as secondary to service-connected adenocarcinoma of prostate status post radical prostatectomy.,The Board also denied service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, to include as secondary to a renal cancer tumor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood throughout the appeal period. A rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right forearm and shoulder disability did not manifest during active service, arthritis of the right upper extremity did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service, and the current right forearm and shoulder disability is not etiologically related to active service or proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by the service-connected right hand and thumb disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder are related to his service. The decision also grants secondary service connection for his alcohol use disorder based on its relationship to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depression is granted, and the effective date is set at November 30, 1992.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. The other claims for PTSD and GAD were denied as there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.