Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, PTSD, major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, likely preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD with panic attacks prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and a need for additional development of medical records, including from Swedish Hospital. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being evaluated further.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, right eye disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The RO reduced the Veteran's right knee chondritis of the patella rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as there was no material improvement in the condition that had been maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was received on May 30, 1984. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at this date.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals, including erectile dysfunction and urinary frequency, are found to be related to his current depressive disorder. His PTSD is also found to be related to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has vacated the May 2017 decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim is granted as his MDD began during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Dependence has been rated at 70 percent since December 5, 2012. This rating is based on the severity of his symptoms which have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the symptoms are not continuous or recurrent in service. There is also no evidence of a psychosis within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors, particularly regarding civilian deaths in Korea. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The most recent VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or any other mental disorder under DSM-V.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is pending.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 28, 2001. Effective March 2, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for each ankle disability due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has not been linked to service or any incident thereof and thus does not meet criteria for service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.