Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric condition, primarily claimed as secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed in conjunction with this claim to address the issues of causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal to receive special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

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 and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of a psychosis during service or continuity of symptoms post-service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities and obtaining any pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, cognitive disorder and mood disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depression, general anxiety disorder, and depression NOS, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 22, 1995 for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted. The effective date is set at January 14, 1982, which is when the Veteran filed a request to reopen his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD or bipolar disorder, including diagnoses such as depressive disorder NOS, explosive disorder, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's depression is at least as likely as not incurred in service.,Service connection was also granted for hypertension, with the Board concluding it was aggravated by active duty service.

The Board found that there is no diagnosed condition of PTSD during the appeal period and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including major depression and major depressive disorder, due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pain in the left hand and wrist, degenerative arthritis of the left knee with a Baker's cyst, and depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected depression and PTSD, and an opinion on whether his sleep apnea is caused or worsened by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental examination to address the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety attacks, is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, PTSD with depressive disorder, and other disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 8, 2005. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is therefore set at that time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD), a gastrointestinal disorder, and a respiratory disorder. The evidence did not support these claims based on her active duty service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's major depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling on and after March 1, 2012. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date remains in appellate status.