Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his prostate cancer, psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and eye disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and flashbacks, worsened after he stopped taking two medications due to syncopal falls. Despite this, his suicidal ideation resolved with the help of medication adjustments and job search support.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was not present in service and is unrelated to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability and therefore, service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, or anxiety disorder cannot be established.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be service-connected.,There is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder that began in or is related to active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder effective October 30, 2015. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence and the effective date is set at that time.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS has been rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include depression, has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are related to her military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and a 100 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence prior to September 24, 2010 that supported these claims.

The Veteran's mood disorder, not otherwise specified, with features of depression and anxiety, was manifested by symptoms that more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability. The initial rating of 50 percent has been granted effective October 16, 2008.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum 50% disability rating. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is reopened and new evidence supports a finding that his current psychiatric condition more likely than not began in military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially to his death from an acute intracerebral hemorrhage due to deep vein thrombosis. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions from a VA examiner regarding service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record. The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, anxiety and depression, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, while he was awarded TDIU. The depression claim was reopened based on new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 50 percent since April 22, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant higher initial ratings.