Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various claimed conditions. The appellant's military service is also being reviewed to clarify her periods of active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychotic disorder (claimed as nervous condition), personality disorder, and depression. The reasons include lack of verification of an in-service stressor for PTSD and denial of service connection due to failure to meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, is related to his service or caused by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case on his claim for increased evaluation for a psychiatric disability and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as major depression, is related to her active service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since August 2009, reflecting the severity of his symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, and difficulty with social interactions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, adjudicating a claim of service connection for hypertension, and securing an opinion from a VA urologist regarding whether erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by depression, nonspecific urethritis, and/or hypertension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression, also claimed as a mood disorder. However, it was determined that there is no direct link between his current condition and his service-connected disabilities or any other events in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his service-connected back disability and his current anxiety symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 15, 2012. His bilateral cataracts remain noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and alcohol dependence caused severe impairment in his ability to establish effective relationships, warranting a 70% rating from December 27, 1988, to May 5, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and an organic mental disorder materially contributed to his death, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and memory loss, but denied reopening of his claim for a skin condition. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted. The Board found that the pre-existing pes planus worsened during service and is therefore considered aggravated, warranting service connection. For major depressive disorder, the Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship with service but noted the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service stress leading to depression.