Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, with schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence that would support the claims.

The Veteran's claims for insomnia, anxiety disorder, and depression were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and recurrent major depression with melancholic features, is now granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hip and leg disability with arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disability including depression are not related to service or an incident of service origin.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, major depression, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder is found to be incurred in service. His coronary artery disease is also found to be proximately due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression, attributing it to the Veteran's in-service delivery of a stillborn child.

The Veteran's initial rating for major depressive disorder with panic disorder was increased to 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development due to incomplete opinions from a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's major depression with insomnia is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher initial rating of 30 percent. His headache disorder remains at its current 10 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a depressive disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran is now entitled to an evidentiary hearing on this issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis), and left knee disability. The evidence received since the prior final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's daughter, L.M., was diagnosed with depression but did not become permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18 years. Therefore, she cannot be recognized as a helpless child for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression began during service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for PTSD remains pending as additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2005 rating decision, which did not consider accrued benefits for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The appellant's current claims for an earlier effective date are also being considered.