Depression decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, which is now considered on its merits. The Board finds that the Veteran's depressive disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right eye disability, including his loss of vision in the right eye, is at least as likely as not related to service. The VA examiner opined that the acquired psychiatric disorders are also related to service and stressors associated with military service.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent major depression and bulimia nervosa resulted in total occupational and social impairment from April 2, 2008 to December 22, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a compensable rating for his right foot corn and an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for depressive disorder. The appeals for service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability are pending.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disabilities, foot rash and skin disorders, right knee disability, and right arm disability as they were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a medical opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the remaining claim on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his psychiatric conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, including from prescribed medications.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including corroborating his reported stressors and providing an updated VA examination to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or depression.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed disorder is related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and paranoid type with depression, effective March 28, 2000. The Veteran is also entitled to an earlier effective date of March 28, 2000, for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no competent evidence linking any other mental disorder to active duty or to a service connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service and specifically to in-service sexual trauma/personal assault. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression with anxiety, ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, right leg peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and mood disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or a link between current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The diagnoses were based on combat stressors experienced during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, but granted a TDIU effective November 20, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia and depression, is related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection for this condition is granted.