Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is not less than 70%, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not demonstrate that he is or has been precluded from all forms of employment due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder and depression, secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD with depression. The other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's current depression is found to have first become manifest during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depression, and alcohol use disorder do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and entitlement to a TDIU have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeals by filing.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that the Veteran's current depression is at least in part related to his active service. Service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and arranging for a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, PTSD, depression, and other conditions are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the maximum (100%) since February 3, 2012. He also received a separate 60% rating for his coronary artery disease. As a result of these ratings, he is no longer eligible for a TDIU.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities. His hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service or any incident therein. The Veteran's left leg being shorter than the right leg is related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The issues of service connection for depression secondary to duodenal ulcer disease and entitlement to TDIU are also being reconsidered.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted service connection and assigned a 30 percent initial rating effective November 7, 2005.,The Veteran contends for an earlier effective date of his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, headaches, and depression were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to clarify whether any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's mood disorder and depressive disorder. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the TDIU claim.