Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA mental disorders examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a psychiatric and ankle examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, depression, and bilateral ankle disorder.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and left ankle sprain with DJD are being remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, tinnitus, and cervical spine strain claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a head laceration with loss of consciousness is denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) are pending as additional evidence may be needed to establish the presence or etiology of these conditions. Service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, psychiatric disorders, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right foot and ankle condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU rating are met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is now found to be directly related to service. The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, depression (also claimed as anxiety and sleeplessness), hypertension, headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and tachycardia are all due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 3, 2004 for his TDIU due to CUE in a May 2011 rating decision. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to December 3, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and a psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder, have been denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum from a VA psychologist regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 14, 2011. The disability has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board finds that service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder has been granted based on reopening of the claims due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected major depression is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a May 2011 VA psychiatric examination. The case must be returned for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and dysthymia, is not related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus. The pre-existing dysthymia is found to be not aggravated by service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran is granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is denied for numbness and tingling of the shoulders, hands, and feet.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active duty service. Service connection was not established for the lumbar spine or psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conversion reaction with symptoms of depression and hysteria is manifested by occupational and social impairment, resulting in deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The disability picture more closely approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating from May 26, 2006 to December 12, 2008.