Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his current acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered service-connected as it does not meet the criteria for a valid diagnosis of PTSD or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to May 6, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met and grants an initial 50 percent rating for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and whether the baseline evaluation of his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was proper were denied. The Board also found that he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his election to receive VA pension instead of compensation benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge. The preponderance of evidence also failed to establish a connection between his current psychiatric disorders and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his PTSD and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's depression was not found to be related to service and was denied. Service connection for a right leg/knee disorder was granted, but no compensable rating was assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's headache disorder had its onset during service and granted service connection. For his acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board determined there was no evidence of a psychosis within one year post-service, thus denying service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including migraine headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, sciatic nerve disability, and depressive disorder, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a non-PTSD psychiatric disorder or depression and anxiety having its onset during military service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and major depression, is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depression has been rated at a 30 percent disability level since February 2010, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and psychosis, was denied. The Board found that there is no verified in-service stressor of personal assault or witnessing the death of a fellow servicemember. There is also no evidence of a snake bite or other combat-related incident. The Veteran does not have PTSD, but has an unspecified depressive disorder which is due to chronic pain and related to service-connected thoracolumbar strain.,The claim for service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is likely due to a combination of pain from nonservice-connected disability (nonservice-connected pain) and service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues include increased ratings for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with left sciatica and hypertension, service connection for acid reflux, depression, and a skin rash, and an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain SSA records and readjudication of his claims.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have onset during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for depressive disorder was severed due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed depression is not related to his active service or to any service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted. However, his claims for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and left knee instability are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are related to his military sexual trauma during basic training, which is considered a personal assault. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.