Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, major depression, a depressive disorder, and a not otherwise specified psychotic disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for further VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, which are service-connected conditions, contributed to his death by suicide. The medical evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board found that a chronic back disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymic disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, effective from October 22, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and PTSD were rated at a 10 percent prior to January 10, 2007. The Board found that the evidence supported an initial 50 percent evaluation for these conditions during this period.

The Board has expanded the claim to include all psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for further development, including obtaining additional stressor verification, VA mental health treatment records, and SSA disability decision records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with psychotic features, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation as of January 3, 2007. Effective date of January 3, 2007 is granted for the establishment of TDIU benefits and Chapter 35 benefits.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and is remanding the PTSD claim for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his disability level. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a final decision can be rendered, including the need for an examination to determine if the Veteran was subjected to sexual and/or physical trauma in-service and the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disorder(s), to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development including obtaining Morning Reports and verifying stressors, as well as providing a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The claim will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of whether the appellant's character of discharge constitutes a bar to payment of VA compensation benefits due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 2005 rating decision. The issue remains on appeal as service connection for schizoaffective disorder and depression is not established.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted service connection, with a disability rating of 100% effective from the date of her claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that any such disability had preexisted service and was not permanently aggravated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD; a higher rating for residuals of L4 compression fracture; and TDIU. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of a back injury and psychiatric disability to allow for further development and readjudication. The claims will be considered together as they are inextricably intertwined.