Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and cholecystectomy were denied due to lack of material evidence. The claim for an increased rating for internal derangement, left knee, postoperative with synovitis was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder as part of the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, and he is now eligible for a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and providing an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his diagnosed depressive disorder or anxiety disorder are not related to his military service, including any alleged stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder was denied because his first communication expressing intent to seek this benefit was received on April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including the medications prescribed for such disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be causally related to his period of military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder, but not for the left knee disorder or TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Depression as secondary to MS, and Tinnitus due to MS. Service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss is denied.

The evidence shows that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression, have resulted in only occasional occupational and social impairment with intermittent decreases in work efficiency. The current rating of 30 percent is deemed sufficient to reflect these symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum to the August 2012 VA examination report.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with polysubstance dependence in full remission and symptoms of depression was granted, effective January 4, 2005. The claims for depression and substance abuse were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied as there is no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors, and his current psychiatric conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is not attributable to his military service or a service-connected disability, and it was not permanently worsened by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 70 percent since July 17, 2007. The current rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pneumonia, depression, diabetes mellitus, a bilateral foot disability, and skin disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during his active duty. The Board found no presumptive service connection based on mustard gas exposure.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee, effective October 1, 2009, was proper based on improvement in his condition as shown by VA examinations.