Depression decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety disorder was granted service connection, but the RO increased his initial rating to 30 percent prior to December 7, 2009. The RO then increased the rating to 50 percent from December 7, 2009 to September 21, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear information regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric condition, right knee disability, and TDIU claim will also be reassessed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and bereavement disorder, are found to be related to his service in Vietnam. Vascular dementia is also found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD due to military sexual assault is granted. The Board also found credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of other acquired psychiatric disorders, including mood disorder and depressive disorder, which are not related to military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding the appellant's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is being remanded due to the need to develop his service personnel records and verify his claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his increased disability rating claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder first. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance until the increased disability rating claim is resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private and VA treatment records.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his interactions with the VA Patient Representative's Office and attempts to obtain post-operation physical therapy following his October 2001 surgery. The secondary claims for right arm disability and depression will be reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include Depression, Anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as these conditions are not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran met the criteria for a current PTSD diagnosis or that any additional current psychiatric diagnoses were related to his active duty service.

The Board found that there is no verified in-service stressor for the Veteran's claimed PTSD, and thus service connection cannot be established. The conditions of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and mild anxiety are not related to service.

The Veteran's major depression and schizoaffective disorder are service-connected, but his PTSD claim is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since October 1, 2012. The rating is based on the severity of her symptoms and their impact on her occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 50 percent prior to March 19, 2008 and a maximum 100 percent rating from February 1, 2011. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations and any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 50 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU. The claims for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy, bronchitis, swelling of joints in the upper extremities, sleep apnea, and low back disorder are all denied. Service connection was reopened for atrial fibrillation with hypertension and mitral valve insufficiency and low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for his depressive disorder, NOS. The claim was remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive VA psychiatric examination and review of all pertinent evidence in the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete stressor verification and further development of the case.