Depression decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that there was no legal entitlement to such a date prior to June 30, 2011.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder, finding that there was no material improvement in his condition since the March 2007 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and police reports, as well as for further examination of the Veteran's gunshot wound claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disabilities, and a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder pre-existed her service from January 1991 to February 1991. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) due to secondary service-connected diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition that is related to service. The Veteran's symptoms are attributed to his dementia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need to provide notice under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(4) regarding personal assault in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is causally related to his service-connected prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is etiologically related to in-service symptomatology and finds that it is at least as likely as not that his current condition is due to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and depression. The Board finds that additional development is needed, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to receipt of individual unemployability benefits effective February 24, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service personnel records, provide a new opinion regarding the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder and insomnia, and readjudicate the issues on appeal.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD. The Veteran's periods of active duty in the Army National Guard are being verified, along with any National Guard service treatment records.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, as well as sinusitis with polyps. Both conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and updated treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is service connected. Service connection for a left elbow disorder is granted as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability. Service connection for gastritis is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hand disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, bilateral hip bursitis, skin disorder, right shoulder disorder, and alcoholic pancreatitis are all denied.