Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to January 5, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development and readjudication, including consideration of his service-connected conditions and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as secondary to a service-connected status post left patellectomy was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's disability due to claustrophobia with depression and psychogenic non-epileptic seizure is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from the date of his death. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the request to reopen the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, alcohol dependence, and depression contributed to his death. The cause of death is considered unknown but likely related to these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma. The Board has determined that the issues on appeal should be characterized as set forth in the title page and remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD for VA purposes, and there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a jaw disability, depression, and cervical spine disability. The decision found that new evidence did not meet the threshold to reopen the jaw disability claim, and there was no evidence linking any current psychiatric or spinal conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, depression, neuralgia of the temporomandibular joint, and a left eye disorder are all granted based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety reaction was reopened and granted, with the diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic feature found to be etiologically related to his conceded in-service stressor.,Service connection is denied for a respiratory condition due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 6, 2015 and is denied for a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further evaluation to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and records, including mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms warrant a higher rating of 50 percent due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the severity of her PTSD has potentially worsened since it was last evaluated six years ago and therefore requires another examination to assess her claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 5, 1994, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for further evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, including symptoms of depression and alcohol dependence. The Board finds that the criteria for secondary service connection are met.