Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression, and finds no connection to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (dementia and depression) is not related to service. The criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status are also not met.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, due to disease or injury incurred in service. The stressor claimed by the Veteran cannot be verified.

Your claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is dismissed because you are already receiving benefits for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an updated VA examination and a social and industrial impairment evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other claims on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The case has been remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current depressive and anxiety disorders.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is found to be due to his active military service, specifically the traumatic event of Hurricane Celia during his time at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in August 1970.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 20, 2004 for service connection of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The decision was based on the fact that the Veteran's entitlement to this condition arose on or after December 20, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and any other psychiatric disorder had onset during his active service or was caused by his active service. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hip, pes planus, low back strain, neck disorder, or eye disorders. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gender identity disorder and depressive disorder, NOS are etiologically related to her active service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was incurred in active military service due to a verbal altercation with a superior officer during his time as an active duty member. The presumption of soundness has not been rebutted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been granted service connection and is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for various conditions, including right and left shin splints, a low back disorder, a cervical spine disorder, GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than service-connected PTSD. The appeals were decided on the merits of the evidence presented.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder with psychosis and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, remains pending.