Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 10, 2009 for a higher 70 percent rating for PTSD and depression is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcoholism, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate this claim.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and her sinusitis is rated at 10 percent. The RO granted the increased ratings for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The TDIU issue is remanded as the combined ratings do not meet criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety, is related to service. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain-myositis is found to aggravate his depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others are not.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and a service-connected hip condition do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether his current psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and anxiety and depression, as secondary to service-connected ulcerative colitis. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and his PTSD with depression and anxiety disability rating is maintained at 30%. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine if he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and depression. However, the claim remains denied as there is no valid diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to active duty service.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for major depression was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus severing it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and personnel information. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, requesting mental health treatment records from service, and scheduling a VA examination by a psychiatrist to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is related to active service.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by her periods of active and inactive duty for training.,There is no evidence of a right shoulder disorder during the Veteran's periods of ACDUTRA, nor any current diagnosis.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, to his military service. Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a personal assault during service and thus could not establish an in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, an evaluation for major depression in excess of 30 percent prior to May 3, 2012, and in excess of 50 percent from May 3, 2012, a compensable initial evaluation for hemorrhoids, extension beyond February 29, 2008, of a temporary total rating for service-connected major depression, and TDIU were all denied.