Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of an examination for left ear hearing loss and because new evidence may be relevant to reopening claims for depression and anxiety. The Veteran's service records show he served aboard Naval vessels, which could have exposed him to noise during his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, recurrent major depressive disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and prostatectomy residuals. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that another VA examination is necessary to assess whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist condition and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depression, but has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of appeal. The Board has not jurisdiction over these issues as they are no longer in contention.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning December 12, 2008. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions (right ankle degenerative joint disease and depression) meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder and service connection for depression due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they primarily consist of occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's request to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), pleural effusions, asthma, sleep apnea, pseudobulbar affect, stroke residuals, thyroid tumor, atrial fibrillation, and headaches. The decision also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, but remanded the claims for hypertension and lumbar spine disability (scoliosis) due to insufficient evidence.

An effective date of March 14, 2007 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is aggravated by his PTSD, allowing for a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's special monthly compensation for aid and attendance was granted effective December 22, 2003. The issue of whether the discontinuance of her special monthly pension based on aid and attendance was proper has been rendered moot due to the grant of a higher benefit.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder. Additional development is required due to incomplete records.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma, erectile dysfunction, tremors, muscle tension headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and depression have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to her service-connected conditions and any stressors she experienced during service.