Depression decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the claim due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and it is requested that both the Veteran and his representative be notified of the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective November 6, 2009. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD have been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his fear of hostile military activity during his service in the Persian Gulf War. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are at least as likely as not related to her military service, including verified in-service sexual assaults. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for dysthymic disorder, claimed as depression; type 2 diabetes mellitus; and seizure disorder are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The rating reduction of the evaluation of disc protrusions at L4-L5 and L5-S1 with mass effect on the right S1 nerve root from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2014, is also remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for low back disability and an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to differentiate the effects of his service-connected anxiety disorder from any nonservice-connected mental disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and finds that new evidence received since the August 2005 rating decision tends to substantiate the Veteran's claim. The Board also finds that service connection is warranted as the Veteran's current psychiatric/psychotic disorder is shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as residuals of a right ankle disability, were denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and ADHD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claims for a seizure disorder (secondary to alcohol abuse) and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information and possibly a VA examination. The issues of service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD are under review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and foot disabilities are found to have caused or aggravated his depression, which is granted as secondary to these conditions. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating of 70%.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding private medical records. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner. The Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's cause of death, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, was determined to be the result of depression that was aggravated by service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether any acquired psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, if so, whether it was not aggravated by service, and if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a separate psychiatric condition other than PTSD and bipolar disorder, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.