Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a major depressive disorder with insomnia, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. Service connection for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for this diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest schedular rating available, but he is unemployable due to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board also granted a TDIU and SMC based on the Veteran's housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is caused by his active military service and grants this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of service connection, meeting the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the initial evaluation for service-connected depression. As a result, the Board dismisses this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since March 31, 2016. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 22, 1998, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. Prior to August 6, 2013, the Veteran was also found eligible for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's appeal as they have been deemed untimely due to his withdrawal of claims. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for memory difficulties, anxiety and depression with adjustment disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for duodenal ulcer, heart disease, and depression. The Veteran's colon cancer residuals are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected infectious mononucleosis, and his throat condition is not related to his history of mononucleosis.

The Veteran's depression disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his persistent allergic asthma is rated at 30 percent. The effective date for these ratings has not been specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric diagnoses are not shown to be related to an in-service event or injury. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, affective disorder, depressive disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his diagnoses and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, and Schizophrenia based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The claim is reopened due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis of PTSD related to fear of hostile military activity.