Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymia and depression is rated at 50 percent disabling, which meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of claimed stressors and a new examination to clarify the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including spine disorder, depressive disorder, radiculopathy, right foot and left foot degenerative joint diseases, and right knee degenerative joint disease, preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened and granted. The effective date of the grant is December 14, 2013. A TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD and major depression, were granted. The rating assigned for GERD was increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection are still under consideration.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU from March 22, 2010; his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and theories of causation, including service connection for various disabilities allegedly related to poisoning during service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule appropriate VA examinations, and consider the Veteran's claims in light of his reported exposures.

The Board finds, in resolving all benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran, that diagnosed panic disorder and major depressive disorders were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, claimed as secondary to PTSD with anxiety and MDD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and a new VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and depression, is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder with psychotic features as secondary to service-connected bilateral hydrocele and/or orchialgia.,The Veteran was granted a 0% rating for orchialgia, but the issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depression have been rated at 70 percent disabling, effective August 15, 2017. The Veteran also has a stable rating for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric and neurological conditions do not warrant a higher rating, as they do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since July 29, 2009. Effective April 7, 2015, the rating was increased to 100 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, are not attributable to her active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and hypertension are rated as 60 percent disabling. The Veteran's stomach ulcers are not service connected.