Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression with insomnia and anxiety, was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the claimed condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with depression. The TDIU claim will also be readjudicated.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, previously diagnosed as adjustment disorder, has been rated at 50 percent since June 8, 2017. The rating is granted.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder have been manifested by symptoms indicative of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is now entitled to have his claim reviewed on its merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression) are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or any other disability related to his military service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the case can be adjudicated, including obtaining a new VA examination to address all of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and whether any are related to an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's pancreatitis was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,From January 19, 2011 to July 5, 2017, the Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50%, 70%, and 100% respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, and thus did not address eligibility for attorney fees from past-due benefits in addition to a previously paid Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) fee.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Veteran's sciatic nerve impairment of the left lower extremity is still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of major depression and anxiety disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that no unadjudicated formal or informal claims were submitted prior to September 21, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The evidence received since the January 2011 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, is related to his service. The claim for TDIU will be remanded as it cannot be adjudicated without a rating assigned for the psychiatric condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nose condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for service connection and nonservice-connected pension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and an anxiety disorder related to his military service in Vietnam is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a higher rating of 50 percent prior to May 13, 2016. For the period after May 13, 2016, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent were not met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of current disabilities related to his military service.