Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as due to military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran's accounts of the MST are credible and supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's current PTSD with a depressive disorder is found to be due to fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired mental disorders did not have their onset in active service and are not otherwise causally related to active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression was rated at 30 percent prior to April 11, 2001. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders and psychiatric condition were not shown to be related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and coronary artery disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, secondary to his service-connected low back disability was denied. His claim for a higher evaluation for the same condition also failed.

The Board found that the Veteran's panic disorder (in remission) and residuals of a deviated nasal septum were incurred in active military service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders, particularly whether they are related to service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to an in-service traumatic event.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, based on new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent throughout the period of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as a developmental disability. The evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, requires further development before it can be decided on the merits.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for duodenal spasms as a residual of duodenal ulcer, effective September 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his current psychiatric and orthopedic conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left forearm disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions during his appeal period.