Depression decisions — 2017

The Board found no evidence of a head injury or psychiatric disability during service, and the current psychiatric disabilities are not causally related to service. The Veteran's personality disorder is not subject to superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted, with a 30% evaluation effective from March 22, 2005. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for depression and assigned a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder. The Veteran's impotence/erectile dysfunction is also found to be related to his service-connected right hydrocele epididymitis and service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records from the South Bend Vet Center, provide VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims, seek alternative sources of evidence, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and left peroneal nerve palsy are service-connected. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's left peroneal nerve palsy has been rated at 20% since September 4, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for depression disability and bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus existed prior to service but was aggravated during service. The back disorder and adjustment disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran now has a diagnosis of depressive disorder due to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the exception of his persistent adjustment disorder which has resulted in a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety with polysubstance abuse, is being remanded due to the need to verify a claimed stressor and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is at least as likely as not caused by a head injury incurred during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection due to the character of the Appellant's discharge being a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the diagnosis and likelihood of a nexus to service. The examiner will be asked to identify any current psychiatric disorder, including successfully managed ones, and provide an opinion on whether such condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, is found to have begun during service. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the implementation of the grant of service connection may render it moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as per DSM-IV or DSM-V.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an increased rating or any other favorable determination.

The Board denied service connection for depression with sleep problems, night sweats, and suicidal ideation as secondary to PTSD. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 10, 2017, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 8, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he was incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.