Depression decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, migraine headaches, a left knee disability, and residuals of left wrist fracture with mild degenerative joint disease. The issues were broadened to include a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been granted a TDIU effective from July 24, 2017. The issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, and positional vertigo are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, were incurred in or caused by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder, but denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military discharge.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 100% since August 16, 2007. As a result, the issue of entitlement to TDIU is rendered moot.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder prevents her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but the evidence does not show that it rises to a level of substantially precluding employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 70 percent, but the appeal is for a higher initial rating. The Board finds that his symptoms do not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a hearing loss disability of the right ear, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left leg disability, and gastrointestinal disability are all denied as there is no current disability found in each case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The Veteran is also requested to provide verification of her in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The kidney disability and hypertension cases are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional examinations and reviews of medical records, particularly regarding the Veteran's psychiatric and respiratory conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service stressor of being attacked while on shore leave in the Philippines.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board has also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression. The Veteran is granted service connection for this condition, as it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are found to be related to a reported military sexual trauma (MST) during active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The Board finds the evidence in equipoise on whether the MST occurred and grants service connection based on new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected migraine and duodenal ulcer. The Veteran's eye disorder is not established by the evidence, and his mood disorder is not service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD symptomatology more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, GERD, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his active military service.

The Board found no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and denied both PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's depression was diagnosed based on his reported history, but without a verified stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression or any other mental disorder, and therefore service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc bulge is denied.