Depression Board decisions

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with dementia, effective April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his symptoms being within the range of normal hearing. For insomnia, the Board found that it was aggravated by active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service along the border with Soviet bloc nations in Europe during the Cold War. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a diagnosis of PTSD due to fear of hostile military action, which is sufficient to verify the occurrence of the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence, including recent VA examination reports. The issues on appeal are whether he should receive a higher rating for his service-connected traumatic brain injury and persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since October 2007, and his low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 3, 2003. Both conditions have been granted effective from January 24, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 30, 2012 for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is April 30, 2012. For his rating claim and TDIU claim, the Veteran's psychiatric condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depression. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected residuals of left quadriceps muscle tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and substance abuse disability are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other chronic acquired psychiatric disorder related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), hemorrhoids, stomach ulcer, acid reflux, and sinusitis. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by evidence and therefore have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a vocational assessment regarding her ability to work due to her service-connected disabilities, as the current evidence is insufficient for a determination on whether she is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and depressive disorder, finding that both conditions are related to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was received on September 26, 1980. The effective date of service connection is set at the earliest possible date, which is September 26, 1980.,The Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for major depressive disorder prior to July 7, 2011. Therefore, an earlier effective date is denied.,Prior to July 7, 2011, the Veteran was service-connected for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. He did not meet the eligibility criteria for SMC at the housebound rate until he received a 70% rating for major depressive disorder on that same day.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the claim was filed on June 17, 2011. The Veteran's other issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant and his representative have requested to withdraw their appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if in order.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD or other psychiatric disorder related to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sarcoidosis and neuritis. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.