Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a May 2007 PTSD screening examination report, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for Grave's disease, primary cutaneous vasculitis, major depressive disorder with sleep disturbance and fatigue. Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions as they are not related to service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service and whether it clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including service connection for depression, dental trauma, bilateral foot disability, and back disability. The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty was rated at 30 percent from July 1, 2009, and the left knee arthritis/patellar tendonitis was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, major depression, and depressive disorder, was denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his hypertension and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, pancreatitis, dementia, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, all secondary to diabetes mellitus. The decision did not address any exposure basis or grant a disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hearing loss, and polysubstance dependence/mood disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an updated VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report and need for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 30 percent disabling prior to August 14, 2012. The appeal for restoration of a 70 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety are found to be related to his service, warranting the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition, claimed as depressive disorder and anxiety condition, has been reopened. However, further development is needed to determine the etiology of his psychiatric condition and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been granted service connection, with a 50% disability rating effective June 27, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression; an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus; and an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings or referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, cardiovascular disorder, rectal bleeding, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, acid reflux, and hypercholesterolemia. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability.