Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, PTSD, broken right leg, right heel injury, left heel injury, and bilateral foot discoloration are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case and scheduling of a travel board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and issues related to her current address. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination at a VA Medical Center near her current residence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), is related to her service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating, in excess of 30 percent, for major depressive disorder associated with duodenal ulcer disorder.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder were granted a rating of 30 percent prior to June 29, 2010, and in excess of 50 percent from June 29, 2010. The claim for PTSD was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder characterized as major depressive disorder and left shoulder arthritis. The Veteran's depression is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his military service, while the left shoulder arthritis is also found to be at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders (depression and generalized anxiety disorder) are not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder were not shown to warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 17, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, were not related to service or any incident of service origin.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring all relevant information is considered before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since July 12, 2007. The Board finds that a higher initial rating of 70 percent is warranted as the evidence shows occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and disabilities, including increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease, service connection for PTSD, a bilateral knee and foot condition, depression, asthma, food poisoning, a gunshot wound to the left leg due to the right hand as secondary to bilateral hand condition, anxiety, a bilateral arm condition, a bilateral leg condition, a bilateral hand condition, hepatitis C, sleep apnea, urinary retention, and memory loss. The appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 50 percent since January 24, 2015. The Board has granted an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of meningitis, and thus service connection for spinal meningitis is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with anxiety) was granted as these conditions are found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sleep disorder, and depression have all been denied. The denial of the back disability claim is due to it not being addressed in this decision. The denial of the sleep disorder claim was based on lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The denial of the depression claim was due to the absence of new and material evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a miscarriage, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of September 25, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-IV criteria. The examiner found no evidence of a link between the claimed in-service stressors and the current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a typographical error in the supplemental statement of the case and for an additional VA psychiatric examination.