Depression decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Social Security Administration and service personnel records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and personnel records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The VA reduced the Veteran's disability rating for dysthymia from 50% to 30%, effective December 1, 2005, based on improvement in his symptoms and a sustained period of partial remission.

The VA determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychosis is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review of the expanded record to adjudicate the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as the Veteran and his representative withdrew this claim. The remaining issues of service connection for gout, skin disorders, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and high cholesterol have been denied due to lack of evidence of an underlying disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since December 2008. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has a separate diagnosis of depression that is related to his military service or his other service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in both major depression and PTSD, including insomnia, as well as lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities are sufficient in combination to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service and personal assault during basic training in November 1967.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether or not the Veteran has a psychiatric disorder related to his service. The RO is instructed to seek authorization from the Veteran for VA to secure Dr. Alcantar's records of treatment since 2001 and then arrange for any further development suggested by those records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional clarification of the VA examiner's opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD and depression, as well as to address his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and an adjustment disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The appeal was denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD based on any claimed stressor or fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The issues are whether service connection is warranted for these conditions, as well as their relationship to his service-connected low back strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and opinions from VA examiners.