Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 30, 2015 is also granted.

The claims of service connection for depression/adjustment disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus, diabetes, and back disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his depressive disorder did not directly lead to the fatal stabbing by his child's mother. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s depression to the actions of the mother.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS has been reopened, and the Board is granting this aspect of his appeal. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (including as secondary to tinnitus), and sleep disorder are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder and PTSD. The appeal regarding left knee and foot disorders is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle strain, and bilateral pes planus due to new evidence. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, MDD, Anxiety, Unspecified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder), and alcoholism have been reopened. The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to support these claims and grants them.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion, and a need for an adequate VA examination and opinion in accordance with the Court's order.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 31, 2013 and denied for a higher rating. From January 31, 2013 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD and major depression, recurrent; sub-threshold PTSD ratings are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive neurosis has been reopened and granted. The claims for residuals of a head injury and lumbar spine strain with right leg shortening are remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records.

This decision grants the Veteran's request for VA outpatient dental treatment. The Board denied service connection for left and right elbow disorders, cardiomyopathy, and denies initial ratings for rheumatoid arthritis, left foot calcaneal spur, hypertension, and GERD. Service connection is granted for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis, and the claim for this issue is granted. The appeal regarding left foot plantar fasciitis and pes planus is dismissed as no new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service and granted service connection. However, the issue of service connection for MDD remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a current disability.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated noncompensably disabling, and higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence of two or more symptoms warranting a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.,The Veteran's ED is currently rated noncompensably disabling as there is no deformity shown. ,The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated noncompensably disabling, and higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence of prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board has denied clothing allowances for knee braces and insoles, but has remanded the issue of back brace allowance due to lack of clarity in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that other psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Personality Disorder are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD. However, the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression, is related to his military service.