Depression decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder was not caused or aggravated by his active service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, and determine if the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is a congenital defect or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address his hypertension claim and another VA examination to determine if his PTSD with depression and alcohol abuse are related to service. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is service-connected, but has not established a current diagnosis of any other psychiatric disability. The claim for service connection for psychiatric disability other than major depressive disorder was denied.

The appellant has withdrawn all issues related to the appeal, including those regarding service connection for PTSD and anxiety, evaluations of shoulder conditions, major depressive disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and his claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, did not begin during or as a result of his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, which meets the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The claim for SMC at the housebound rate prior to January 26, 2012 is moot as SMC at the aid and attendance rate is greater.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions did not have their onset in service or are related to his active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of aggravation of a pre-existing foot condition during service and that there is no credible supporting evidence to establish the occurrence of any in-service stressor related to military service.

The Veteran's current depressive disorder and alcohol dependence were incurred during his active naval service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the examination report and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is receiving the maximum schedular rating for residuals of status post right partial lateral meniscectomy.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety were incurred in service, as evidenced by treatment during and after active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and a psychiatric examination. The examiner will provide opinions on the nature of his current psychiatric disorders, their relationship to service, and whether they are aggravated by his service-connected myocardial infarction.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to an event during active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that there is new and material evidence to support the claim. The Veteran's in-service symptoms are now considered to be part of an underlying psychotic disorder.