Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate April 2013 VA examination and a need to clarify its conclusions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), are found to be related to his service and granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and denied the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), but denied the claim on the merits. The cervical spine disorder claim was not addressed in this decision.

PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 17, 2015 and increased to 50 percent thereafter.,Cervical spine strain was rated at noncompensable prior to September 16, 2015 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,Thoracic/lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 16, 2015 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and major depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of depressive disorder prior to September 16, 2013, and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and whether service connection is warranted. The issue of atrial fibrillation will be addressed by issuing a SOC.

The Veteran meets the service requirements for Vietnam service and is permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disability not due to his willful misconduct. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, relates to service. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, has resulted in occupational and social impairment but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia, are at least as likely as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's mood disorder and depressive disorder have been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. The criteria for TDIU were not met due to the Veteran's ability to work despite his psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and adjustment disorder, is not considered to be caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The Board finds that the event of his failed penile prosthesis procedures was reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including cognitive impairment and emotional/behavioral dysfunction, are rated at a 40 percent rating. The Veteran has level 2 cognitive impairment secondary to mild memory loss, attention, concentration, and executive dysfunction.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's right ankle disability is now considered incurred in service, while her claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending due to the submission of new stressor allegations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and examination reports, as well as for further consideration of his increased evaluation claim for PTSD and depression and TDIU claim.