Depression decisions — 2014

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder in service and the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his employability considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression, are not related to service. The in-service stressor event is deemed unsubstantiated, and there is no evidence of a personal assault during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that his psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression and anxiety, is granted as service connection is established due to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted due to the presence of combat-related stressors and diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, are being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been evaluated at 30 percent since the rating period on appeal, which is the maximum schedular evaluation for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher disability rating based on his symptoms and functioning.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his depressive disorder with PTSD, left hip, back, and left knee disorders. The TDIU claim will be deferred until adjudication of other claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits as he failed to provide requested information and evidence within one year of being notified. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) and heart palpitations are also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder was not incurred in service and is presumed to have existed prior to service. Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder with claustrophobia/agoraphobia, were also not shown to be related to service. A personality disorder was diagnosed but not considered a disease or injury for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and adjudicating the claims with consideration of any additional evidence received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety disorder NOS, mood disorder, and adjustment disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was received on February 27, 2003. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection were met as of this date and grants an effective date of February 27, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Army service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between any current psychiatric disorder and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to active military service. The psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.