Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with MDD, left shoulder condition, right and left knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is therefore eligible for TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder, is granted service connection. The TDIU claim is remanded for readjudication in light of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's depression, memory problems, chronic insomnia, and fear of heights are all found to be symptoms of the service-connected PTSD. As such, these issues have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his time in service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, effective May 20, 2010. The Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right or left knee disability and denied service connection for these conditions. The psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was also denied as secondary to his knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches have not been manifested by severe economic inadaptability, and thus an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with insomnia was manifested by symptoms causing reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and depressive disorder NOS, has been granted as his symptoms are related to his military experiences.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient information regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic diarrhea, requiring further examination and development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and depression have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective May 26, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations and need for further analysis of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depression, has not more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment for any period prior to November 5, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to October 22, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at 70 percent since December 24, 2008. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set to December 24, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder do not render him unemployable, as he has been employed full-time since May 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.