Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating of PTSD and a request for an effective date prior to June 27, 2011. The case is being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a separate diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service injury during INACDUTRA.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's posttraumatic headaches with an initial evaluation of 30 percent from July 14, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development due to the need for updated medical evaluations of her service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and dysthymic disorder, as well as her fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative bone disease, lung disorder (granulomata of the lungs with COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, headaches, depression as secondary to other medical conditions, flat feet, low back disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's depression prior to October 15, 2015 was productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Since October 15, 2015, the Veteran's depression has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is causally or etiologically related to his period of honorable military service. The symptoms are more likely attributable to his dishonorable service following his conviction for indecent acts and liberties with a minor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to confirm the Veteran's reported stressors, obtain private treatment records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus with hypertension, diabetic retinopathy with loss of visual acuity and fields, and erectile dysfunction have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 5, 2011, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the character of his discharge barred him from receiving VA benefits other than health care under Chapter 17. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and hip disabilities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for depression and has assigned a 10% disability rating effective December 22, 2016. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right hand will be rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The SSA records, including all adjudications and underlying records, must be associated with the Veteran's file.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective May 14, 2007. The claim for increased rating of low back strain was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service stressor events are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD and is requesting additional development to confirm this. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2012.

The Veteran's depression is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral flat feet, lumbosacral myositis and/or left shoulder tendinitis, and thus he is entitled to service connection for this condition.