Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request. The claim of reopening service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and depression) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for major depressive disorder is granted as the condition had its onset in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, low back disability, hernia, gout, and hypertension as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being scheduled. The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's lung condition, diagnosed as pulmonary fibrosis, is found to be related to his active service. The acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) is also found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease. The Board found that the Veteran's statements attributing his symptoms to employment, financial problems, family issues, political issues, social stressors, and health problems are not credible.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected depressive disorder with symptoms of anxiety was denied as he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding specific stressful incidents in service that resulted in PTSD. Further development is needed, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and any State disability benefits.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for additional psychiatric disabilities other than his PTSD. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining Social Security records and a new opinion from the VA examiner regarding the aggravation of his acquired psychiatric disorders by his service-connected PTSD, is necessary.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 25, 2009. The claim for a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA psychiatrist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depression and whether it was proximately due to or caused by his prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, NOS. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are found to be directly related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.