Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's depression and duodenal ulcer are currently rated at their maximum levels, with no further increase warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new psychiatric examination and addendum opinions on bladder and bowel incontinence.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression results in occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 70% or above.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially obtain VA Vocational Rehabilitation records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a personality disorder are currently before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and MDD are due to stressors related to her military service, specifically an episode of sexual assault during active duty. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's MDD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The issue is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for a depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and contacting the Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, as well as for a low back disability (lumbar stenosis), but denied service connection for a chronic skin disorder and a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions did not cause his death from lung cancer. The Board found that the primary cause of death was the Veteran's long history of smoking, which contributed to his lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA PTSD examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and a mood disorder, is found to be related to his service in the Republic of Afghanistan. The claim for GERD is remanded due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obsessive compulsive disorder is related to his military service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, as well as his requests for increased ratings and TDIU. The issues of asthma, major depressive disorder, and neurologic disabilities were addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current disability is related to in-service noise exposure. The hearing loss and psychiatric claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), a leg disorder, and a back disorder has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need to verify stressor events and obtain additional evidence. The appeal will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for further review.