Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU consideration and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current psychiatric symptoms and service. The claims for prostate condition and sleep apnea are also denied.

The Veteran's MDD was rated at 70 percent effective October 18, 2012. He is also granted TDIU for the period prior to that date.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is not shown to be related to his qualifying period of service from June 25, 1962 to June 24, 1966. The Board found that the diagnoses are more likely due to experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed as all potential benefits have been awarded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is not related to his complaints of depression during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for her psychiatric disability was denied prior to June 1, 2010. However, the Board granted a 70% rating from that date forward.,For the period prior to July 24, 2012, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to her employment status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was not found to warrant an increased rating prior to April 20, 2009 or a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, acute stress disorder, and a psychotic disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final denial suggests that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for panic disorder with social phobia, major depressive disorder (diagnosed as bipolar disorder), sleep apnea, and bilateral shoulder disability. The conditions are all found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is related to his military service. The examiner must also provide an opinion on whether PTSD should be diagnosed and its relationship to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder (MDD) with psychosis, are being remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions. The examiner will consider whether it is at least as likely as not that any psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran experienced instances of in-service personal assault. The right ankle disability claim is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 9, 2010, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran did not have a prior unadjudicated/pending claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, prior to July 9, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's major depression was found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was found to be substantially employed during the period from September 11, 2007, to June 9, 2008. Therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his low back disability, right foot disability, and depression were denied. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hypertensive heart disease was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and major depression, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.