Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression NOS, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, and dysthymic disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran is granted a separate, 40 percent disability rating for the side effects of the medications used to treat his service-connected lumbosacral strain.,An effective date of October 11, 1995, is assigned for the award of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, left arm disability, and restoration of his TBI rating. The Veteran's MDD and COPD ratings were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, colon cancer, stroke, and depression due to the Veteran's exposure in Vietnam. The conditions are related to his service-connected condition of diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depression, finding that the award was not based in part on newly associated service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain adequate medical opinions detailing the nature and etiology of the appellant's disabilities.

The Board has determined that an effective date of May 15, 2008, is warranted for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. The evidence does not support an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar II disorder with depression and anxiety, and panic disorder are related to his service due to bullying and harassment experienced during his time in the military.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 29, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 70 percent rating based on his symptoms of suicidal and homicidal ideation; depressive disorder; alcohol use disorder; anger and irritability, including physical and verbal altercations with former colleagues and strangers, and causing him to verbally abuse his spouse; sleep disturbances and chronic sleep impairment; nightmares; intrusive thoughts and flashbacks; guilt; avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, feelings, and external reminders of his in-service stressors; avoidance of crowds; feelings of detachment and estrangement from others; flattened affect; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; depressed mood; persistent inability to experience positive emotions; anxiety; panic attacks in large crowds and at social gatherings; tension; headaches when discussing in-service trauma; suspiciousness; difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; impaired impulse control; lack of motivation to participate in activities; and reckless or self-destructive behavior.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and her nonservice-connected PTSD and GAD. The TDIU claim cannot be resolved without first reaching a determination as to the appropriate evaluation for the Veteran's depressive disorder.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has identified several in-service stressors and is requesting further verification of one incident involving a fellow GI bringing back a live shell from the battlefield.

The Board has remanded the case due to missed VA psychiatric evaluations and requests for a new evaluation to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service from July 1976 to July 1980.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressor is credible and there is a link between his current symptoms and his active duty service.