Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records from Bremerhaven Army Hospital and verifying a stressor event. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions are also to be evaluated by VA medical professionals.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently demonstrated MDD and anxiety are likely caused by his service-connected prostate cancer, status post radiation therapy. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 19, 2008 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma, hypertension, and paranoid schizophrenia with depressive disorder. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to service. The Board also notes that there is no evidence showing an extended period without any manifestations of the claimed condition post-service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular heart beat and/or palpitations, back disorder (osteoarthritis), and depression. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's testimony regarding the alleged military sexual trauma (MST) was found to be credible and supported by other evidence in the file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 7, 2005 for a 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The Board finds that service connection is not warranted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected depressive disorder and cocaine dependence, in remission is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or residuals of frostbite related to his active service. The claim for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, to include anxiety and depression, are not shown to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor, which occurred during his Vietnam service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including service treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and VA/privately obtained medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being returned to the RO/AMC for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities and assigned initial ratings, but denied the petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issues include determining whether the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression are related to her active service.