Depression Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separately diagnosable psychiatric disability other than his already service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia and PTSD. His anxiety and depression are symptoms of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service stressor is related to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is related to this stressor. As such, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and he has a compensable disability rating for hearing loss in the left ear. The Veteran's peripheral vascular disease of the legs is rated at 20 percent each, with no higher ratings due to lack of ulceration or massive edema.,Service connection is denied for sleep disorder (presumably insomnia) as secondary to service-connected peripheral vascular disease of the legs. Service connection is also denied for left shoulder pain as not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, was incurred in service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, also claimed as depression, began in service and persists to this day. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD, right leg sciatica, right hip degenerative arthritis, and major depressive disorder are all service-connected.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claim for increased rating of left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and her case is dismissed.

The Veteran's disability rating for depressive disorder was reduced from 50 percent to noncompensable effective June 1, 2012. The reduction was proper as the evidence did not show sustained improvement in her condition under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing existing records to determine if the Veteran has PTSD or depression that is service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for bladder cancer and psychiatric disorder, including major depression under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 on the basis of claimed residuals of treatment provided at a VA medical facility have not progressed further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim that VA improperly withheld his disability compensation benefits to recoup special separation benefits he received at service separation. The decision stated that the law required such recoupment and that the Veteran had no legal basis for challenging it.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder was rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms. The diabetes with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also rated, but no ratings were granted as they did not meet the required schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their permanence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for major depression and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's depression, NOS with anxiety was manifested by reduced reliability and productivity prior to May 2, 2011. From May 2, 2011 to October 22, 2014, the Veteran experienced total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a TBI during the appeal period and denied service connection for PTSD with a history of adjustment disorder, major depression and alcoholism. The Veteran's headache syndrome was also denied as there were no characteristic prostrating attacks.