Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, panic disorder and social phobia. The Board finds the VA examinations inadequate due to lack of consideration of relevant in-service documentation and remands the case for another examination.

The Veteran's effective date for reinstatement of VA service-connected disability compensation benefits was December 13, 2011. The appeal is dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including schizoaffective disorder, depression, insomnia, and paranoid psychosis, are also considered in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are related to service. The residuals of a TBI have not been shown.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion with respect to the Veteran's claim for psychiatric disorder. The Veteran underwent such an examination in January 2015.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was not manifested by symptomatology approximating the criteria for a higher initial rating, and his service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum standard for consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not file a claim for service connection prior to October 7, 2009. Therefore, the effective dates of the grants of service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service, specifically stressors reported while stationed in either Iraq or Saudi Arabia.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and to obtain a comprehensive psychiatric examination. The claim will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for all issues currently before the Board, including service connection for a left foot injury and PTSD; and higher disability ratings for the service-connected right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 100 percent rating is warranted due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders and to provide updated VA treatment records. The case will be further reviewed after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar and cervical disabilities. Effective July 11, 2012, the criteria for an increased initial rating of 30 percent for tension headaches have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been denied as his claimed conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety are related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service personnel records and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is pending.