Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel file and records of any mental health treatment or discipline in service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, depression, migraine headaches, and ilioinguinal neuritis were denied. The claim for hypertension was reopened but not granted. The initial rating for depression prior to April 28, 2009, and the ratings for migraine headaches and ilioinguinal neuritis remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric, hearing loss, and tinnitus conditions. The claims will be further developed with additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the impact of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder on his employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and alcohol dependence does not render him unemployable, as he is currently working at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional clinical records and a current mental health examination to determine the nature and degree of severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder since 2009.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is causally or etiologically related to active service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety and depression, which he claims developed during his military service. The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional medical records and determine if further examination is needed.

The Veteran's depression is as likely as not caused by his service-connected disorders, and the Board has granted service connection for depression on a secondary basis.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and status-post fracture traumatic arthritis of the left second metacarpal, ulnar nerve entrapment, and peripheral neuropathy of the left hand. The diagnoses are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the March 2012 VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether any post-service psychiatric disability diagnosed, including depression, is causally related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service connection claims, specifically the depressive disorder claim. The prostate cancer rating issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to service. The examiner should provide opinions as to whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the psychiatric disability pre-existed entrance into service (for both the 1968 and 1991 enlistments/activations), AND if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the disease did not increase in severity during service beyond the natural progression of the disease.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression with gastrointestinal symptoms, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling since April 9, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to her in-service miscarriage. However, there is no evidence of a current left ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, thus denying service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is denied as there is no evidence of onset or incurrence of the disability during service and it is less likely than not related to any in-service injury or event.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The case has been remanded to determine whether the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident occurred in the line of duty or was due to willful misconduct and to schedule a VA examination to assess the current status of his acquired psychiatric disabilities.