Depression decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining verification of a personal assault during service and arranging for a psychiatric examination.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is attributable to his service-connected right and left lower extremity neurological deficits, which are secondary to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability manifested by urinary frequency due to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The Veteran also has fatigue as a result of his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered part of the same disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim, as his service-connected disability does not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering new evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be etiologically related to his military service, and the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a major depressive disorder and PTSD was reopened, but the claims for hypertension, CAD, left ventricular dysfunction/congestive heart failure, ulcers, COPD, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, right foot calluses and corns, and left foot calluses and corns were all denied. The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence following May 2012 right foot surgery was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify his psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to service. The TDIU issue must also be addressed in the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for a travel or videoconference Board hearing to address the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety disorder and depression, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging a new VA examination. The case will be reconsidered after the development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to afford him a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The current issue is whether he should receive an evaluation higher than 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD with major depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for major depressive disorder is being reviewed in light of her reported pre-service pain and its potential impact on her current mental health condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 15, 2011 for a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) is denied as there is no evidence of increased disability within the one-year period before the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his major depressive disorder. His TDIU claim will also be submitted for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has ordered a remand to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder and PTSD. The remand is due to inadequate notice regarding personal assault claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining a stressor verification and an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is service connected, as it resulted from an injury in service. The psychiatric disabilities and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's major depression claim was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.