Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left ankle, bilateral wrist conditions, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be made on the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, mood disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, provide a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran died by suicide in June 2008. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of his death, but he was not previously service-connected for a psychiatric disorder. She also raised a U.S.C.A. § 1151 claim based on VA's failure to appropriately treat his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's medical conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder and depression, were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence submitted by the appellant. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue, low back disorder, male pattern baldness (claimed as hair loss), depression, and impotence on the basis that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year postservice. The claim for coronary ischemia with hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement and microcytic anemia, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability during service or during the applicable presumptive period, and concluded that there is not sufficient medical evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities (depression and anxiety) and his active service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to determine if the case should be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing depressive disorder was aggravated by his period of active duty service from February 2003 to August 2004, and thus service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating based on his service-connected back disability and depression, effective May 10, 1999.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is a continuation of his service-connected schizoid personality disorder, which arose during active duty. The diagnosis and treatment for depression have been consistent throughout the years.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for further development of evidence, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's daughter, J.S., was not found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to a mental condition. The evidence does not support the claim for helpless child benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from SSA and schedule examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or neurological conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depression have been rated at 50 percent since October 2008, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features was denied as her claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder was received by VA on May 12, 1994. The effective date cannot precede this date.