Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection. However, as personality disorders are not diseases or injuries for VA compensation purposes, the Board denied service connection for Borderline Personality Disorder.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue with his requested hearing.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is found to have been incurred in service, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.,While the Veteran has erectile dysfunction, it was not caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus. The examiner opined that hypogonadism may be more likely the cause of his erectile dysfunction.,New and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), alcoholism, and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on confirmed stressors and found no evidence linking any acquired psychiatric disorder to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed psychosis and has been diagnosed with PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The in-service stressor event is not corroborated by credible supporting evidence, and therefore service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder cannot be established.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as internal hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's conditions are not found to be related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. His lumbar spine disability, rated at 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, has been granted a higher rating based on unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), depressive disorder, tinnitus, and residuals of shrapnel fragment wounds to both legs, have rendered him unemployable due solely to these conditions. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the appeal has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder and depression are related to service or his service-connected disabilities, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been denied as there is no competent and credible evidence establishing the current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed condition of depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address his claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is granted, and his lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent since September 9, 2009. His right knee patellar tendonitis remains at a 10 percent rating, while his hypertension continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for a psychiatric examination, and determining the current severity of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2009. The rating reflects the current level of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period, and is not related to service. The Board also found no evidence of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are related to his reported in-service stressors. The claim for service connection is granted.