Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depression, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and PTSD is granted. The appeal for service connection for gastroparesis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a rating for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered to have started during his qualifying period of service or within one year after it ended.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development and adjudication is necessary to confirm the Veteran's periods of service, obtain his VA treatment records, and schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depression with Anti-social Personality Disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including passive aggressive personality disorder, depression, substance related disorder and bipolar disorder. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 5, 2007. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the current 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh, left thigh scar as secondary to service-connected gunshot wound to the left thigh, and unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders as secondary to service-connected gunshot injury. The injuries occurred during active duty.

Service connection granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a compression disorder of the thoracic spine.,Service connection granted for right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left femur disability prior to September 12, 2012 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 60 percent and 20 percent for left femur disability and associated scars are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim due to concerns about the reliability of a previous VA examination and the need for further medical clarification regarding the Veteran's mental health history.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with MDD, finding that total occupational and social impairment has not been shown. A separate rating for MDD was also denied.

The Veteran's death is found to be related to his depression during service, which was a direct cause of his death. Service connection for the cause of death has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD no longer warrants a 100% evaluation, as there is evidence of improvement in his condition and ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at a 50 percent rating prior to March 8, 2011 and at a 70 percent rating from March 8, 2011. The decision is granted for the higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination, as the Veteran was unable to attend his scheduled examination. The examiner will assess any acquired psychiatric disorders and determine if they are related to service.