Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression, is service connected as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. His bilateral foot disability is also service connected. The RO reduced the rating for his low back disability from 40% to 20%, effective July 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder are linked to his combat experiences during service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD, which is related to in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is now considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with proper notice.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for an ear disorder and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded to obtain VA audiological examination reports and ensure that all necessary development has been completed.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for acid reflux is being remanded to obtain a clarifying opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his PTSD and depression.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction are being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not directly related, secondary to, or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a disability manifested by voice change is being remanded to provide the Veteran with a VA examination and determine if he has a current disability due to intubation during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders, low blood pressure, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression is rated at 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that his depression and antisocial personality disorder were not related to his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claimed PTSD stressors and denied service connection for both PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 100 percent, the highest schedular rating available. As a result, the claim for TDIU is moot since there remains no period where the schedular rating is 'less than total.'

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression were denied as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.

The Veteran was rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from January 16, 2001, to March 8, 2004, due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for substitution and accrued benefits purposes during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression and headaches, prevented him from working as of March 27, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants TDIU effective March 27, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is included in the appeal due to evidence of other psychiatric diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran was rendered unemployable as of May 21, 2013, solely due to his multiple service-connected disabilities and this has continued unabated since that point in time.

The Board has expanded the claim on appeal to include any mental disability that may reasonably be encompassed by the Veteran's description of the claim, reported symptoms, and other information in the record. The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and determine the current severity of his PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS. The issue of a TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no evidence of a psychosis/mental illness within two years after discharge from active duty. The claim for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of supporting evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, NOS is rated at 70 percent effective October 20, 2014.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA treatment records.