Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his complete service treatment records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for left hip strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, traumatic brain injury, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's PTSD claim was also granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since October 17, 2012. The rating is granted as the condition meets the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting evidence and a need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, and the appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a duodenal ulcer disease have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The case is REMANDED for further development on the issue of substitution.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability was reopened and granted. The reduction in the disability rating for prostate cancer status post X-ray treatment with erectile dysfunction from 100% to 40% was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for depression and anxiety, as well as his claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since November 11, 2007, due to severe symptoms including suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, chronic sleep impairment, hallucinations, flashbacks, panic attacks, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to determine the etiology of multiple sclerosis and issuance of a statement of the case for the issues of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, non-compensable disabilities, entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymic disorder, claimed as anxiety disorder and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his low back pain, hypothyroidism, memory loss, fatigue, high blood pressure, bad vision, high cholesterol, and depression symptoms, and determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's TBI residuals did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the prior version of Diagnostic Code 8045, as there was no evidence of specific neurological disabilities related to his TBI. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination regarding his National Guard service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to service, specifically his reaction to the loss of his son who died from spina bifida linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depression disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his symptoms are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression. The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors were sufficient to cause such symptoms.