Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and is remanding the remaining issues including sleep apnea, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and depression) for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. T.W.S., scheduling a VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss, and providing him with an opportunity to respond to the supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is related to his reported in-service stressors and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and TBI, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to an in-service assault. The Veteran's other claims have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression, finding credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's in-service exposure to a noncombat-related stressor and an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence as to whether he has a current diagnosis related to this stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 100 percent disabling from April 15, 2008 to August 2, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at March 19, 2004, which is the day after his separation from service.

The Board has broadened the claim to include an acquired psychiatric disorder and has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his military service. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional personnel records are needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and migraine headaches.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected disability of the feet. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct further examinations, and provide additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of stressors and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depression with panic attacks. The Board has determined that the case must be remanded due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his residuals of a vagotomy with pyloroplasty for ulcer disease do not warrant an increased rating, and the claim for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric conditions remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder is dismissed as moot. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse, but not higher.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depression, are found to be related to her service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability was granted, but his attempt to reopen the kidney disorder claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed mental health disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.