Depression decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, depression and anxiety, is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, or that any such disabilities are causally related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are causally related to the Veteran's military service. The issues on appeal include entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated his current depression. The examiner is instructed to use the correct legal standard and provide an opinion on whether there has been any increase in the Veteran's depression as a result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been rated at 100 percent since June 22, 2004. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he did not require hospitalization due to his service-connected disabilities and was not hospitalized in a hospital for more than 21 days.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PAD, RLS, and diabetes mellitus, type II have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional relevant treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of her diagnosed persistent depressive disorder. The issue of TDIU will be deferred pending completion of these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim. For depression, the Board determined there is no evidence of an in-service event or disease related to service, and thus denied service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety and depression, is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 17, 2009.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is now considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all necessary development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is secondary to her service-connected back disability and grants this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and lack of consensus regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnosis. The Veteran will be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder present during the period of the claim, including whether it is related to service-connected left knee and/or right hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim is not yet decided on its merits.