Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (post-phlebitic syndrome of the left lower extremity with venous insufficiency and depression) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and bilateral knee disabilities, render him unemployable due to their impact on his ability to perform the physical and mental acts required by employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran can secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD due to MST, are related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to determine if his cognitive disability and psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The Board will also seek clarification on the pre-service status of his cognitive disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and information from private providers. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD is pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression that he claims is secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updating treatment records, is needed before the claim can be decided.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's original claims of entitlement to service connection for anxiety disorder, dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder, and chronic adjustment disorder as a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is denied because there is no evidence that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had onset during active service or was caused by his service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a mental health examination. Additionally, he will be scheduled for an employment impact assessment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to her in-service stressors.

The VA determined that the Veteran's mental disorders, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, were not incurred in service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding pre-service psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any psychiatric disorders, asthma, and COPD.

Prior to June 9, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,Since June 9, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's chronic mood disorder, including depression, is found to be secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with 5th toe bunion and DJD of the 1st MTP joint.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and further adjudication of issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service, including as due to any verified stressor.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for these conditions if they are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of depressive disorder and antisocial personality disorder are not related to his military service. The examiner provided a rationale for the denial.