Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent disability rating since June 12, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain verification of his in-service stressor involving pulling bodies out of the water and to provide him with a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, which is now granted as it is etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying duty periods and obtaining a VA mental health examination. The Veteran's psychiatric disability may have pre-existed his service or developed during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or heart condition. The claim for neuropathy is denied as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied as there is no evidence of a claim or entitlement prior to the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The RO denied these claims in the past and did not consider all relevant evidence, necessitating a de novo review. Further development is needed to address new evidence and provide an updated examination.

The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development due to new evidence submitted after the most recent SSOC. The Veteran's claims of increased evaluation and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death. No service connection has been decided as the appeal is not about a condition related to service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been manifested by symptoms that have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his PTSD, substance abuse, and hypertension. The case will be reviewed after additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder NOS and substance abuse disorder secondary to depressive disorder NOS has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of depressive disorder NOS during service, which is considered direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to additional development and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing at the Waco VARO.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied, with the exception of PTSD which was granted and assigned a 30% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis and found that the Veteran's sarcoidosis is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure. The remaining issues have been remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, is etiologically related to his service, specifically his period of homelessness in 2005-2006.