Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to scheduling issues, including a misunderstanding regarding the videoconference hearing request and pending appeals for other issues. The case will be addressed in a future Board decision if necessary.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD. The evidence received since the July 2008 decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (the Veteran's reported stressor of seeing someone die during basic training).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current psychiatric conditions are related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if any identified acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or due to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 29, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 16, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder) are rated at 50 percent prior to June 18, 2012.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other diagnoses, had its onset in service or is otherwise due to service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, previously characterized as PTSD and now diagnosed as Persistent Depressive Disorder, is rated at 30 percent for the period prior to May 21, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia met the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU from March 5, 2012 to October 2, 2016. The Board found that his PTSD prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's acquired mental disorder, including major depressive disorder and OCD, was granted a 70% rating effective January 1, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claims for service connection.,Similarly, the Board determined there is no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders to his time in service and denied his claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for cervical strain, a higher rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, and TDIU as the Veteran withdrew her appeal. The issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric condition that began in service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and that it does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The claim was also denied for secondary service connection as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, is related to his service-connected back disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, primarily diagnosed as a mood disorder with psychotic features and schizoaffective disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it is related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right long finger amputation, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether his current psychiatric condition is aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depression has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, a rating of 70 percent is warranted for his service-connected PTSD prior to September 22, 2016.