Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic headaches and acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities, granting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD with anxiety and panic attacks, secondary depression, and episodic alcohol abuse is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected depressive disorder. The issues on appeal are whether he should receive an increased rating for his depressive disorder and if his disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and mood disorder with depression, are related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder was granted a 70 percent evaluation from August 12, 2010 to May 19, 2015. The right and left knee bursitis claims were denied.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 17, 2011 for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his current diagnosis of GAD is due to his service-connected facial scar.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from August 29, 2011. The TDIU claim remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of the claim and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal prior to February 26, 2010.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder, began during service due to his inability to perform parachute jumps as a result of physical ailments in service. The diagnosis is considered direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination, as well as development of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's previous claims were denied because his psychiatric disorders did not start in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression will be reconsidered based on this new information.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted as the evidence supports a finding of service connection.,The status of service connection for sleep disorder (sleep apnea) is pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, residuals of tubal ligation, right foot disorder, and glaucoma. The Board found that her current psychiatric symptoms are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected traumatic brain injury and grants service connection for this disability. The TBI residuals are rated at 20%.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and service with the 7th Infantry Division, as well as to determine if there are any additional records that could corroborate his claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since May 15, 2014.