Depression decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder (granted), Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Alcohol Induced Psychosis. The decision is mixed as some conditions were granted while others were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including investigating Private D.F.'s service record and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder present at any time since May 2010.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his period of active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and new and material evidence for service connection, except for reopening a claim for hepatitis C.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not related to his service. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining service treatment records, VA and private medical records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is pending. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder have been characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but deficiencies in most areas have not been shown. The Veteran is currently assigned a 50 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to address diagnoses other than depressive disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has been rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and reopened the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, as secondary to the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has not manifested in total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no corroborated stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The acquired psychiatric disability is therefore denied as service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The criteria to establish entitlement to a TDIU are also met.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his active service, and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any identified psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and MDD did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment during the period from March 22, 2012 to January 6, 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to support reopening. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and schizoaffective disorder) and low back disability are remanded for further development.