Depression decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are not related to service. The most probative evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but additional development is needed to fully assess the impact of these conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability is manifested by depression, anxiety, and an explosive disorder. The medical opinions are in relative equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge from service in July 2006 was not a bar to VA benefits due to her military sexual trauma and determined she should be granted benefits for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for polysubstance-induced mood disorder. The reopened issue is now expanded to include all acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are found to be related to his in-service experiences, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his sleep apnea, left shoulder disabilities, and scar condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and a right arm disability have been denied. The Board found that new evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but did not find a nexus between his current right arm condition and service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve service records and updated VA treatment records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed stressor events.

The Veteran's service-connected right arm disability and depression prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether depressive disorder is related to service, and further medical opinion regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and PTSD.

From October 16, 2009 to November 22, 2016, the Veteran's major depressive disorder was manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, difficulty concentrating, irritability, anger management issues, memory impairment, and difficulty maintaining social relationships, causing occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From November 22, 2016, the Veteran's major depressive disorder was manifested by similar symptoms, but also caused deficiencies in most areas of functioning.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective June 18, 2014 on an extra-schedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective prior to March 8, 2017. The evidence shows significant impairment but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran may be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides at the DMZ in Korea. The appeal for an earlier effective date for major depressive disorder is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. She is now entitled to a 100% disability rating for her PTSD with depression.