Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, PTSD due to military sexual trauma, and anxiety disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting the claimed incidents of military sexual trauma or a causal relationship between any diagnosed conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more, and his cognitive disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records since July 2015 and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claim will be considered in light of all evidence added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70 percent, but the Board found that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as recurrent major depression, is attributable to his service-connected low back disability. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder; an eye disorder (including as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317); arthritis; a neck disorder other than arthritis; headaches; and a right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue as a symptom of service-connected IBS. The Veteran's hysterectomy and depression claims are remanded due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulitis and temporary total evaluations due to hospital treatment in excess of 21 days or need for convalescence following a colectomy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's diverticulitis arose during service or was related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, pain disorder and insomnia has been denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for residuals of cold injury is currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety attacks and depression were denied. The claim for hearing loss was granted with a noncompensable rating. No new evidence was received to reopen the PTSD claim within one year of its denial in October 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional notice and evidence, as well as a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, NOS, is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the statutory requirements for a TDIU as they combine to be 40 percent disabling, which is less than the minimum schedular criteria required.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, with consideration of his history of mental trauma in service and hospitalization for heart problems.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected skin disabilities. The Veteran also received initial compensable ratings for his tinea cruris and lichen simplex chronicus, lumbar back and medial buttocks, with scarring, and dyshidrotic eczema of the feet.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a skin condition are remanded for additional development.