Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen and find that service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish the presence of a current left knee disability during the appeal period. However, the Veteran's liver disease is found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for alcoholic liver disease secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, or if not directly related, aggravated by his other service-connected conditions including diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, to include anxiety and depressive disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Board also granted service connection for PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran is currently assigned a 70 percent rating for his service connected acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, bipolar disorder type 2 and major depression. He also has a 10 percent rating for narcolepsy without cataplexy.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and tinea versicolor have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for TDIU. His additional service-connected disability (tinea versicolor) is independently rated at 60 percent, meeting the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's reported in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be established. The acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and for eligibility to receive treatment for psychosis. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder or a psychosis during active duty or within two years after discharge, and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of TBI are currently rated at 10 percent, and his acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.,The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and dysthymia, is related to his active service. The claim was reopened on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective September 23, 2011. The claim for migraine headaches was also granted but at the same time.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, most recently characterized as an unspecified depressive disorder, is at least as likely as not etiologically related to in-service events and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection. The VA examiners opined that the adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is not related to service, primarily due to the fact that PTSD was not diagnosed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she is entitled to TDIU from February 2, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as depression and generalized anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and his acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to service. The diagnosis of PTSD is denied, while depressive disorder NOS and alcohol abuse are granted.