Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and other psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The claim for depression was previously denied in 2007, but new evidence did not relate to the unestablished fact of nexus between military service and current depression. The Veteran has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and depression, but no diagnosis of PTSD or any other specific stressor-related psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conversion disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, and major depressive disorder were reduced from a 100% rating to a 70% rating effective April 1, 2011.

The Veteran's depression is considered to have had its onset during his active service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a new Videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge due to his failure to report for the scheduled hearing and allegations of good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, did not have their onset during military service or are otherwise related to such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 28, 2005, for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran is also to be provided an opportunity to identify any outstanding private or VA treatment records relevant to his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the existence and etiology of any current sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected recurrent major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including rescheduling a videoconference hearing. The claim of service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, secondary to service-connected lumbar strain, will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability to include depression, as well as his erectile dysfunction (ED) which he contends is secondary to his depression. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD and depression are found to be at least in part caused or aggravated by events in service in Southwest Asia.,Left ear hearing loss is found to have preexisted periods of active duty but underwent an increase in level of disability during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, SSA records, and a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depression has rendered him demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment from November 7, 1996 through May 4, 2011. He is now in receipt of a total schedular rating for depression during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder was a contributory cause of his death, and he is granted dependency and indemnity compensation based on the cause of death. The claim for VA negligence in providing medical care is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to October 15, 2013 and denied for a higher rating. From October 15, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, intermittent explosive disorder, and depression is granted. His PTSD and associated depression are attributed to his combat experiences in Vietnam.