Depression decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depression can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and panic disorder without agoraphobia, originated in service or as a result of a service event. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The issue of service connection for depressive disorder was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of her employment status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder and MDD, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and adding all subsequent treatment records from the Minneapolis VAMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and right/left knee disabilities, as well as his request for a higher rating for low back strain with degenerative changes, have not been met. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and readjudication of the claim due to issues with the Veteran's address. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which may include PTSD, prolonged adjustment disorder, or clinical depression.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since November 21, 1997, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder that is attributable to his active military service, and the psychiatric disorder was not caused or made worse by service-connected prostate cancer or its residuals.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether any identified acquired psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by the service-connected acne vulgaris. The claim will be readjudicated based on this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and Behcet's syndrome, require the aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is warranted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment reaction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been rated at 50 percent since May 14, 2013. This rating is in line with the current level of disability as determined by a VA examination conducted on May 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private mental health treatment records, service personnel records, and in-service psychiatric treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, lumbar strain, and fibromyalgia are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for depression and PTSD, but further development is needed to determine if there was a personal assault during active duty that led to these conditions.