Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been denied as there is no medical evidence of record linking the current diagnoses to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is being remanded due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are service-connected, but his PTSD claim is denied. The Board also granted the Veteran's request to withdraw the issue of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim for arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II, CAD, and soft tissue sarcomas of the lung and right upper extremity/right shoulder are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran also has chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy that are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD, headaches, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, brittle nails, and syphilis are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of anatomical loss of vision. The claim for increased rating of migraine headaches and PTSD with major depressive disorder is also denied, but the Veteran is granted TDIU status.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to verifying the Veteran's stressor and determining whether his acquired psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including dysthymia, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the claim for service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to PTSD with depression and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), diagnosed as major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is found to be as likely as not attributable to his service. The claim for service connection for PTSD is moot due to the overlap with his already established service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that an effective date of April 1, 2013 is warranted for the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected low back disability and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD, was not shown during service or to be associated with her active service. Her headache condition has also not been linked to her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and cognitive dysfunction due to TBI is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 1, 2010. The evidence does not show that the severity of his disability warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is granted, and the issues of service connection for macular degeneration (on a new and material basis), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, skin disorder, onychomycosis, residuals of right index finger disability, and GERD are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's right elbow epicondylitis and psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) are not service connected. The Board found that the right elbow epicondylitis is less likely related to his service-connected right ring finger condition, while the psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for a diagnosed mental health condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and service connection for sinusitis, low back disorder, neuropathy of the hands and feet, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The VA examinations indicated that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent, and the issue of TDIU based on this disability has been granted. The Board also found that a higher rating for PTSD would not be warranted as it already results in total occupational and social impairment.