Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, specifically his major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are related to service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, are not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a link between current symptoms and active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder was denied. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and TDIU, as these issues require further development.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression is rated at 70 percent since September 17, 2008. The rating will continue as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for ulcers, trigeminal neuralgia, hypertension, impotence, and depression. The Veteran's ulcers are found to have their onset in service.,Service connection was not granted for trigeminal neuralgia, hypertension, impotence, or depression as they were not present during service or until many years after discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obsessive compulsive disorder has been withdrawn, leaving only the issue of service connection for depression unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including L5-S1 bulging disc and myositis, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, depressive disorder, right S1 radiculopathy, left S1 radiculopathy, and small hiatal hernia and gastritis, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from December 10, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on a corroborated in-service stressor, nor was there any evidence linking the claimed psychiatric disabilities to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The appeal was reopened and new evidence was submitted that supported reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are being remanded for additional development to determine their relationship to his service-connected shoulder injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various gastrointestinal conditions, including depressive disorder, esophageal reflux and gastritis, nodular lesion of the duodenal bulb nodular mucosa, gastric polyp, helicobacter pylori infection, antral gastritis, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claim of depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to evaluate her service-connected depression and cysts and adhesions of ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder should be remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for rescheduling the hearing and notifying the Veteran of the new date, time, and location.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-IV.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA mental health examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to the need for a new medical examination and opinion.