Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to February 11, 2016. After that date, the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are found to be due to in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection, and he receives separate ratings for right knee instability and semilunar cartilage condition. However, the appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right leg flexion remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for psychological disorders. A new VA examination is required to address the Veteran's stressors and determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent disabling, and her major depressive disorder is denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% disability rating. The evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a need for a VA PTSD examination and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions will be evaluated again.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because his service-connected PTSD with depression by way of aggravation did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, but it remains unclear whether these conditions are related to his military service. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated conditions have been rated at 70 percent since March 14, 2013. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. A VA examination is needed to determine if dementia is related to his active service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's diagnoses of depression and adjustment disorder with depressed mood were not related to his military service. The Board concluded there was no evidence of a PTSD diagnosis or in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling from December 23, 2015. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a new VA examination regarding his acquired psychiatric condition and TBI residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected depression with PTSD and anxiety warrants a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that his symptoms cannot be distinguished from each other, so all psychiatric symptoms are considered in the adjudication of the claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's depression and PTSD are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's low back disability is found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and he was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted a higher rating of 30 percent for GERD. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.