Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a hearing. The primary issue remains the claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a more thorough opinion from a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Division counselor regarding his employment status and functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depression, cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred during his honorable period of service from September 1981 to September 1984.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Major Depression have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, social relations, and mood. The Board has granted a 70 percent initial rating for these conditions prior to August 25, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining federal records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to depression, anxiety, sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, suicidal ideation, or neglect of personal appearance and hygiene.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features is found to be related to his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae with scars (PFB).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied this claim. The spine disability claim remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his military service, and he was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis.,Service connection for these conditions has been established.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 50 percent, effective from August 2010. He also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, is related to military sexual trauma experienced during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder, due to or otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current neck disabilities are at least as likely as not related to an injury during his 1996 period of active duty for training.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are found to be due to his active naval service and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral wrist arthralgia and dysthymic disorder. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the assignment of initial ratings.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement or payment for the costs of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a period of hospitalization from March 14 to March 20, 2012, at McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center due to a medical emergency involving a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain private treatment records, personnel records, and VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence obtained.