Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's current diagnosis of depression is not caused or increased in severity by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, were not related to service. The alleged sexual and physical assaults during recruit training were deemed not credible, and there was no evidence of a nexus between any current psychiatric disability and service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been granted a rating of at least 70 percent, effective January 10, 2013. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separately manifested acquired psychiatric disorder from his PTSD, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's major depressive disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the ratings for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder in excess of 50 percent prior to October 31, 2011, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, and agoraphobia, is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination scheduled in November 2014. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and ensuring that all pertinent medical records are associated with the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are related to his military service, specifically an in-service artillery attack on a populated shore line in the Philippines. Service connection is granted for these psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is related to her service-connected dysthymic disorder and grants service connection for CFS.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 70 percent effective August 10, 2015. Headaches are rated at 30 percent since September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with depression and alcohol use disorder, resulted in total occupational and social impairment from June 30, 2001 through July 26, 2007. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service, and to obtain a current evaluation of his thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran has been awarded compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional psychiatric/cognitive disability and major depressive disorder with anxious distress resulting from emergency cardiopulmonary bypass with coronary artery bypass graft with reserve saphenous vein graft performed in August 2009 at VAMC Oklahoma City.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service or within one year thereafter.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, alcoholism, or posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but the Board concluded that the current condition is less likely due to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an undeliverable hearing notice and will schedule a new videoconference hearing at the Regional Office.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sciatic nerve disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression and/or anxiety) as secondary to his low back disability. The decision found that there was no nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU rating. However, the more probative evidence does not support an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations for his PTSD, major depressive disorder, mechanical cervical muscle strain, and mechanical lumbar strain have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a neurological examination.