Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted. He is also awarded a higher initial rating for urinary frequency, increased ratings for his wrist disabilities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to military service or any event of service origin.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety and depression with features of PTSD are related to his military service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, depression, was not incurred in or caused by active service and is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted due to the evidence being at least in relative equipoise as to whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service personal assaults.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 50 percent since October 2009, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a noncompensable rating for left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, myofascial pain syndrome, neurological disabilities of the right and left lower extremities, and depression. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability with high blood pressure was previously denied in May 2011, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran is granted an increased rating of 100 percent for his major depressive disorder.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not service-connected due to lack of credible evidence supporting a stressor event in service and his personality disorder and depressive disorder are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining mental health treatment records from the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including parasomnia, is related to service. The Veteran's parasomnia was noted in VA treatment records and needs further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder warrants a rating of 70 percent for the period prior to October 20, 2011 and a rating of 50 percent beginning from October 20, 2011.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2000 rating decision is not new and material, and thus does not warrant reopening the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.