Depression decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims require additional information and evidence, specifically regarding his exposure to herbicides during service. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his service-connected OCD, and he does not meet the criteria for separate diagnoses of anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

The Board has found the previous examinations inadequate and ordered a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including schizoaffective disorder, depression, and cannabis, cocaine and alcohol dependence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression, are not related to service. Huntington's disease is considered a congenital condition with no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative changes and disc disease.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted, and the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD was incurred during her military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The claim for service connection of drug abuse and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including the increased rating and initial rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed to determine if he meets the schedular requirements or if extra-schedular TDIU should be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending claims before the Board.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically his unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The examination should address whether these conditions are related to service or events that occurred during service, as well as whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by his hernia disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain necessary VA medical examinations and opinions for the issues of service connection for a left lower extremity disorder and a higher initial rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and the reduction of his prostate cancer rating from 100% to noncompensable was found to be proper.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's VA and private treatment records, as well as his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits file. The case will be remanded for a new addendum opinion from the same examiner who provided the April 2015 VA addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and personnel records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to establish that his left and right ear hearing loss are related to service, with aggravation beyond normal progression of the disease by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, MDD and depression NOS are at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty.