Depression decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, malaria, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), bilateral tinnitus, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim of service connection for asthma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not due to service, specifically his in-service nasal surgery. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim (including PTSD) will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and granted it. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria of being helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service and the Board grants service connection for an unspecified neurocognitive disorder with mild executive dysfunction and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon disorder. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depressive disorder). The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and right ear hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression. The claim for a right hip disability is pending and will be remanded for further examination. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion and a VA examination to address whether any psychiatric disability is related to active service or specifically related to his reported stressors during service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran's undeliverable mail and potential incarceration. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating, and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as he has a current diagnosis and the stressors are found to be credible.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and coronary artery disease are currently rated at 70 percent, effective April 18, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals do not warrant a higher initial rating than 10 percent from October 23, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including nightmare disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, psychotic disorder, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, did not have their onset during either period of active duty service. The Board also determined that these conditions were not otherwise related to either period of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is granted as the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his Reserve service. The initial compensable rating for residuals of basal cell carcinoma, rated as an excision scar on the neck, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and thus, service connection for such condition is denied.