Depression decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for De Quervain's tenosynovitis, left wrist was dismissed due to the RO severing service connection for this condition effective February 1, 2011 on the basis of CUE.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a mental disorder, including major depressive disorder, has been granted. The claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea have also been reopened and are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for major depressive disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records, as well as inextricably intertwined issues of TDIU.

The Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected as the preexisting condition was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD, remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran served on ACDUTRA in February 1989 and whether his current psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression, is related to service or service-connected tinnitus. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive neurosis, has been rated at 100 percent since November 14, 1967. The effective date for this rating is set as of the day after separation from service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to December 16, 2009 due to symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, isolation, sleep impairment, and unprovoked rage.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for these conditions. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted due to his occupational impairment.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for his service-connected psychiatric conditions was granted, with a 100% rating assigned. The issue of service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia and major depressive disorder are service-connected. The other psychiatric disability is not addressed as it was not diagnosed in this decision.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, NOS, were granted a rating of 70 percent effective March 22, 2013. The other claims for service connection and TDIU were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Depression, as well as his sleep apnea, are related to events during his service. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized by periodic exacerbations of symptoms including a suicide attempt and multiple hospitalizations, has been found to warrant a 70 percent rating prior to March 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is etiologically related to his military service, and thus, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and further development of his claims, including for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and service connection for depression with anxiety.