Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to her death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as she is no longer alive.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are manifested by significant impairment in social and occupational functioning, including difficulty establishing and maintaining effective relationships. The VA examiner determined that the symptoms most closely approximate a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and alcohol dependence are related to service. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that bilateral hearing loss was manifested during service or otherwise shown to be related to the Veteran's active service. Tinnitus was exhibited in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 13, 2007 for the grant of service connection for depression is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right and left hip disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's major depression resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating. However, the evidence did not support a higher 70% rating at any point during the period on appeal. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a combined disability rating of 70 percent from February 27, 2013 onward, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU for the entire appeals period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression is being remanded due to missing records from the claims file. The Board requests that copies of several private treatment records be obtained and associated with the case.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, which are adjustment disorder and depressive disorder NOS, were not manifest in service and are unrelated to service.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 70 percent since November 20, 2013. The symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and possible SSA records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a Social Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being reviewed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a depressive disorder is not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected acne. The evidence does not show a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, to include anxiety disorder, has been rated at 30 percent since February 8, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depression contributed to his death from atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease due to hypertensive heart disease. The Board finds that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are of service origin.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including searching for in-service hospitalization records and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with secondary depression and anxiety, based on credible evidence of in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to military service and denies his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.