Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for depressive disorder with history of PTSD, as the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including a new VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia, are not service-connected. The claim for hepatitis C is denied as the current condition is not shown to be due to an event or injury in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 9434. The thyroid condition remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or hastened by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service, and granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no competent evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disorder, as well as assessing the severity of his service-connected sinusitis and migraines.

The Veteran's depression has been granted a 30 percent evaluation effective April 11, 2011. The earlier compensable evaluations and increased evaluation claims have been withdrawn.

The claims of service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and memory loss have been reopened. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any in-service stressors.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including tinea versicolor and tinea pedis, is found to have been incurred during service.,Headaches are determined to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, and panic disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of ongoing medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent since April 16, 2012. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are not related to his military service and thus denied the claim for service connection.