Depression Board decisions

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 clarification of his diagnoses.

The Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected as there is no verified in-service stressor. The Veteran's depression and adjustment disorder are also not service-connected as they do not result from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, is rated at 70 percent disabling since February 29, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have also been met.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with a secondary depressive disorder, has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment since January 27, 2010. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 70 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The symptoms included depressed mood; anxiety; suspiciousness; chronic sleep impairment; mild memory loss; flattened affect; difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships; suicidal ideation; and obsessional rituals that interfere with routine activities.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 16, 1984, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depression and alcohol dependence. The earlier effective dates requested are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after a July 2015 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for post-concussive syndrome/traumatic brain injury and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran sustained a concussion in service resulting in TBI. The psychiatric disability is considered to be related to his service-connected TBI.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The gastrointestinal disability was not found to be incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old, and thus denied his claim for recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service, and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, hands, and shoulders. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to military sexual trauma in service, and she has other psychiatric disorders that are secondary to her PTSD.,The Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea are found to be secondary to her PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to address additional evidence received after the previous Statements of the Case. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorder) was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD linked to any corroborated in-service stressor and other diagnosed psychiatric disorders are not shown to have had an onset during service or be related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is causally related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric condition that is shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's claimed stressors, and a request for verification from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) is necessary.