Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the case to provide a VA psychiatric examination and determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran does not have a low back disability.,The Veteran's current migraine headache disorder is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.,The Veteran does not have PTSD.,The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.,The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by loss of smell attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is etiologically related to his service-connected left shoulder disability, and the Board finds that this condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and scheduling an audiological examination. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated following these actions.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder was found to be productive of total occupational impairment prior to August 9, 2012, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found that there is at least a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's postservice diagnosis of adjustment disorder began in service. Therefore, the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from April 12, 2013 to December 29, 2013. An earlier effective date of June 27, 2008 for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating since June 16, 2015. The Board has considered the impact of his other diagnosed conditions on his overall disability picture.

The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia and depressive disorder is granted a higher initial evaluation, but the issue of service connection for his low back disorder is granted as well.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for PTSD, chronic depressive disorder, chronic anxiety disorder, and bladder disorder secondary to service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate at a hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, PTSD due to military sexual trauma and dysthymia. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including medications prescribed for such disabilities, have caused or aggravated his hypertension. As a result, the Board finds that he is entitled to SMC based on aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's depression and PTSD are found to be related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, ensuring all relevant private physician records are uploaded to VBMS, scheduling new examinations for PTSD and DDD, and preparing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and now finds that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected heart disability. The claim is therefore granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The claimant was also granted a full grant of benefits sought on appeal for these claims.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression resulted in significant occupational and social impairment prior to December 22, 2015. However, the VA examiner found that he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to his ability to maintain some relationships.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.