Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA examination opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, is related to his service-connected disabilities. His PTSD claim cannot be granted as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and mood disorder has been manifested by severe symptoms equivalent in severity to gross impairment in thought processes or communication, resulting in total occupational and social impairment. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to April 9, 2014. After that date, the disability caused more severe impairments warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of depression, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression, and Parkinson's disease was denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.,Service treatment records did not show any signs or symptoms of the claimed disorders during service. The Veteran was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease prior to death but there is no medical evidence linking it to his service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 1, 2015 has been granted. The Veteran is also service-connected for alcohol use disorder in partial remission and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including eosinophilia and hypersensitivity vasculitis, are caused by her use of Dilantin prescribed by VA in July 2001. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was not found to warrant a rating higher than 30 percent prior to October 16, 2015 and not warranted in excess of 70 percent from that date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of hepatitis C and a psychiatric condition being related to service. The claim for hepatitis C was denied as there were no credible records indicating air gun inoculations during service, and the diagnosis was not linked to any in-service event or injury. For the psychiatric condition, while the Veteran has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the evidence does not establish that it began during service or is related to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing and because his statement of disagreement regarding depression and left seventh rib fracture has not yet been addressed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression and related disorders. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination, and determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2011. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, major depression, and anxiety disorder (NOS).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression, is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences. The issue of service connection for a recurrent skin disorder remains under consideration.