Depression decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, as there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's claimed conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment outside of a protected environment, given his occupational experience and educational background. With resolution of reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have been met.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for MDD as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the MDD to any other disability, including service-connected ones.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression have been rated at 50 percent since July 30, 1981 to July 15, 1996.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for major depressive disorder (previously characterized as dysthymia) is denied. The Board found that the increase in disability was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to October 20, 2010.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 28, 2014. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, pes planus, and left great toe osteoarthritis. The decision also noted that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to or the direct result of his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been characterized by ankylosis of the L5-S1 vertebrae and forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, warranting a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and foot disabilities due to his withdrawal. The remaining claims have been evaluated, but no service connection is granted as there is insufficient evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely due to in-service sexual assault, and thus grants service connection for PTSD. The decision also acknowledges Major Depressive Disorder as a related condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a verified PTSD stressor related to his military service and that his current bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety are not shown by the medical evidence of record to be related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding psychiatric disabilities other than alcohol use disorder and personality disorder, as well as a need for further examination. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings have been denied. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Paranoid Personality Disorder caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 8, 2016 was granted. The effective date of the TDIU is set at January 31, 2011 as this is when the Veteran first became eligible for a TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, insomnia, and a neuropsychiatric disorder as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied because there is no credible evidence linking any of these conditions to service.