Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a PTSD claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes symptoms of memory loss and speech impairment, is service-connected as secondary to his insomnia. The VA has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU, and the collective evidence suggests that his service-connected disabilities, in concert, preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder. The Veteran experienced symptoms of anxiety during service and his current diagnoses are linked to his experiences aboard the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier.

The Board has ordered the VA to reconsider the claim for service connection for PTSD, considering a new regulation. The Veteran's condition is still under review and no rating or effective date has been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's cannabis use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder comprised of major depression and PTSD did not manifest the required occupational and social impairment for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent during the periods prior to May 16, 2008, and from May 27, 2009, to June 2, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, are not service-connected due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Major depressive disorder with polysubstance dependence and substance induced mood disorder), but denied service connection for a throat disability and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal must be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a new VA examination to assess his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his psychiatric disorder is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including as secondary to his service-connected thoracic and lumbar strain, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of all theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied as the evidence did not provide sufficient information to identify and obtain relevant service department records prior to the final adjudication of his original December 2007 claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his secondary service connection theory.

The Veteran's PTSD with MD and APD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment since July 2, 2013.

For the period prior to March 9, 2010, the Veteran's major depressive disorder with paranoia is manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to depression, anxiety, anger, irritability, sleep difficulties, fleeting suicidal and homicidal thoughts, and episodic hallucinations.,For the period beginning March 9, 2010, the Veteran's major depressive disorder with paranoia is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, poor short term memory, hypervigilence, intrusive thoughts, chronic sleep impairments, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the December 2014 VA-contracted examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is caused by his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety, was found to warrant a 70 percent initial disability rating for the period prior to April 14, 2011. The symptoms included significant depressive mood, social isolation, irritability, and passive suicidal ideation.