Depression decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are linked to her in-service stressors and resulting disability. The rating assigned is 30%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service and any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case on issues related to clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of a service-connected psychiatric disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's reported stressor during service was due to his own willful misconduct, and therefore does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to schedule a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury in October 2009 and the Veteran did not appeal. The claim is now being reopened, but new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's adjustment reaction with anxiety and depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 29, 2005.,From September 1, 2005 through August 23, 2010, the Veteran's psychiatric disability warranted a 70 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and schizophrenia. The appeal was based on direct evidence of a link between his active duty service and his current mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depression, including psychiatric medications used to treat it. The claim will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, lumbar spine disability (secondary to service connected bilateral knee disorders), hypertension secondary to PTSD with depression, and an effective date earlier than November 12, 2008 for the grant of an increased rating for PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD with depression was denied from August 20, 2011 onwards. The Veteran's right knee synovitis and scars residual to gunshot wound of abdomen were not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back muscle strain, reopening his previously denied claim. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination and additional development of records, including VA treatment records from April 2011 to the present. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The evidence shows a continuity of symptoms since service and a current diagnosis of these conditions. Therefore, the Board finds that service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and issuance of a statement of the case on all issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering whether service connection should be granted or TDIU awarded.

The Veteran's appeal is for an earlier effective date of June 21, 2002, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence in sustained full remission. The RO has granted this request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and finds it at least as likely as not that his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is related to his service in Vietnam. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be considered based on the current disability rating assigned.