Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and whether any low back disability with lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in service or related to any incident of service. The examiner must also determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are secondary to his low back disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are found to be related to an in-service sexual assault. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports of past sexual abuse and harassment, as well as his service treatment records indicating a perforated eardrum. The Veteran is requested to provide any private psychiatric treatment records from November 1979 to November 1997.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, but not higher, throughout the claims period.,The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying his reported stressors. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, is related to in-service military sexual trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his right great toe or cervical spine disabilities. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for radiculopathy and TMJ disability were granted, but not earlier than April 6, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with related depression has been rated at 70 percent since November 5, 2013. The symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of bilateral toe surgery, concluding that his personality disorder pre-existed service and is not related to military service. The Veteran was also unable to establish a current disability due to service.

The Veteran's depression has been rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of claim (November 2012), and he is entitled to a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected depression.

The Board has remanded the case for further efforts to obtain VA treatment records from 1979-1982, including those at a Tuskegee VAMC. The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and depression remain under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and verify service exposure. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, a psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and a headache are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for renal failure and acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's depression has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board finds that her symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2017 TDIU Vocational Assessment Report and the need for a new VA examination to address his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 9, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as his disability only caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating effective August 26, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent prior to December 5, 2016 and 70 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent since October 29, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.