Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his psychiatric disorder claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Houston VAMC. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's gout, depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in early remission, cognitive disorder NOS, and opioid dependence, DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine, DDD, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, with DJD of the thoracic spine, and right knee DJD have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service and whether he is entitled to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and updated VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the initial rating claim.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for undifferentiated somatoform disorder, claimed as a stomach disorder.,Service connection was denied for personality disorder and/or depressive disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concluding that his symptoms are related to substance abuse during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression, did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, and for a brain tumor. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has directed that the Veteran undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, are related to service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected left ankle disability, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the entire time frame on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the service connection of depression and the severity of his right mid-clavicle fracture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and persists, granting service connection for this disability. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also granted as it is reasonably shown to have begun in service. However, the hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if her current psychiatric disorders are related to service, including military sexual trauma and other stressors.

The Veteran's request for service connection for depression has been remanded due to the cancellation of his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after rescheduling the hearing.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms were mild or transient, affecting work efficiency only during periods of significant stress.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities did not have their onset in service and are not otherwise related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, is not related to his period of active military service.