Depression decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service. The right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent, but no higher rating was granted due to lack of evidence showing more than limitation of motion. For the lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent from July 18, 2005, to March 4, 2009, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center records and a psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD or other psychiatric conditions due to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to secure private medical records from Dr. J. McKellar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability and psychiatric disability (claimed as nervousness and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depression and found that his suicide was due to mental unsoundness resulting from this condition. As a result, he is entitled to DIC benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of organic mood disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, as operation of law is dispositive.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with procedural requirements.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The claim of entitlement to TDIU based on this grant of service connection is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication, including consideration of the Court's holding in Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009), which requires that the Board consider all diagnosed psychiatric disorders when determining whether service connection is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his period of active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, any injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The causes of his death were deemed contributory but not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations to address his heart disorder, service connection claim, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, unclear nature of his claimed conditions, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, and an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right chest are in dispute. The TDIU claim is also in dispute.

The Board has granted an extension of the appellant's delimiting date to June 14, 2015 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code due to her physical and mental disabilities preventing her from completing her chosen education program.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a seizure disorder. The Board finds that VA has not provided the Veteran with an examination to determine the etiology of his currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders or of his seizure disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were granted a 50 percent rating effective April 10, 2010.