Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, allergies and sinusitis, right heel disability, and left heel disability are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service. The Board did not address service connection for PTSD or mood disorder due to lack of evidence.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for psychiatric and other residuals of a head injury in service (claimed as TBI). The Veteran's depression and cognitive impairment are found to be related to his head injury sustained in service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and inpatient/outpatient treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric condition will be evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD was denied as there is no competent evidence showing onset of such a disability during military service or within one year thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric and low back disabilities were denied by the Board, with no effective date provided.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability related to service, and the Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder were denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that liver cancer did not develop in service or was otherwise causally related to service. The Veteran had a history of major depressive disorder and tension headaches which were service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his period of active military service. The case must be remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the likelihood that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was caused or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and re-adjudicating the claims. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder is being considered, as well as his request to reopen his claim for depression and anxiety secondary to a back disorder.

The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service and denied the claims for service connection as there is insufficient competent medical evidence to support a nexus between current disabilities and active duty.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been manifested by sleep disturbance, irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, social isolation, frequent periods of suicidal ideation and impaired impulse control requiring hospitalization and treatment, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Board finds that a 70 percent rating is warranted for the period from May 11, 2006 through January 12, 2009, and from March 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected low back strain with scoliosis, left knee disability, and major depression.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including major depression and cyclothymic disorder, has been granted service connection effective from November 1, 1992.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and therefore the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Veteran claims service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The case is being remanded to provide proper VCAA notice and to obtain a VA examination addressing the expanded claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service. The appeal is now pending again with the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 16, 2010, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.