Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and a VA examination to assess his employability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, a lung disorder due to mustard gas exposure, and a skin disorder due to mustard gas exposure. The Board also found that there is no credible evidence linking any current respiratory or psychiatric conditions to his service.

The Board found no credible evidence of a valid PTSD diagnosis and concluded that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions, including depression and pedophilia, are not related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and allergic rhinitis based on new evidence provided since the last denial. The Veteran now meets the threshold requirement to have these claims considered further.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his in-service experiences and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records. The issues of increased initial rating for anxiety disorder with depression, and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder pre-existed his military service and was not aggravated by it, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder from July 12, 2006 to October 3, 2011 was granted and he is now rated at 70 percent.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was received since the July 2005 rating decision. The Board also found that there is a reasonable possibility that PTSD from military service occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, but his combined disability rating is 60%. The case is REMANDED to determine if referral of the claim for an extraschedular TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for an innocently-acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorder. The claims for respiratory disorder (emphysema and bronchitis) and dental disorder were also denied. The Veteran's request to reopen these claims was not successful.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% since May 7, 2013. Before that date, the rating was granted but not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies within its March 2013 decision, including failing to consider and discuss VA treatment notes from June, October, and December 2007 indicating that the Veteran's depression and anxiety were 'related to experiences in Vietnam.'

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to schedule a hearing before the Board.