Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including evaluating whether his anxiety and depressive disorders are related to his service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is reasonably shown to be related to his service-connected neuropathic pain of a scar, status post umbilical hernia repair. As such, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition, manifested by major depression with anxiety, is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for hypertension will be remanded as it may be related to exposure to herbicides during service in Southwest Asia. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, Crohn's disease, thoracolumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a scar post biopsy excision, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Nashville RO before a Veterans Law Judge due to his missed October 2015 hearing.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted. His bilateral chilblains of the feet claim was also reopened, but no effective date or rating assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a complete record of treatment from the VA facility in Miami and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ankle disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a supplemental clinical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depression, is not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma is found to have caused his current psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder). Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with depression was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Veteran's right wrist condition remains unconnected to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating since July 21, 2008. The Veteran is also in receipt of a separate 40 percent disability rating for TBI residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues with verifying in-service stressors and obtaining VA medical records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, must be evaluated again based on new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of her claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of PTSD and depression, which are related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.