Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any identified acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, organic affective syndrome, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been withdrawn. The remaining issues were either not addressed or denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, service personnel records, and any other relevant documents. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claims for PTSD and depression will be reconsidered after all requested information is obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression, is granted. The claim for PTSD related to military service is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. Steve Giles and notifying the Veteran of any negative responses to his request for private treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to service-connected depressive disorder with sleep onset insomnia prior to August 20, 2009 and SMC at the housebound rate effective prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for clarification of stressor allegations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back strain is granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, is also granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and ADHD. The issues of service connection for low back, left hip, and left leg disabilities were also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder NOS, are not related to his service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his in-service stressors and his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Depression, finding that new evidence (a VA psychological examination in December 2012) supports the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for a TDIU. The claim of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The evidence does not establish a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health condition during service or within one year post-service discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is not causally or etiologically related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disabilities, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and agoraphobia. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

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