Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain an etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizoid personality traits. The issue of service connection remains on appeal.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with features of anxiety is reasonably shown to have been caused by his service-connected disabilities, to include coronary artery disease. Service connection for depressive disorder with features of anxiety is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressor events and a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disability in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service. The claims for PTSD and depression were also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, pes planus, or acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder NOS) related to his service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and to reopen his claim of service connection for bladder cancer, including as a result of Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination for his bladder cancer claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it was present prior to service or aggravated by military service. The case is therefore being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this amount.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective October 28, 2003. The earliest date of entitlement to TDIU is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as his claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted by the AMC prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, mood disorder, dysthymic disorder and anxiety, had its onset in service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on in-service stressors and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and a respiratory disability. The decision is unclear regarding whether new evidence was received to reopen the hypertension claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

From February 23, 2006 to March 5, 2008, the Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder.,Since March 6, 2008, he has been granted a 100 percent schedular rating for his psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including sleep impairment with nightmares, depression, irritability, and isolation. The current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.