Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding treatment records and other issues. The Veteran's request for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, as well as his claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorder are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence is needed. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are expected to be evaluated in detail.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran's right elbow condition and depression are both being reviewed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that no application to reopen was received prior to September 30, 2010. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are remanded due to inextricably intertwined nature.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current schizophrenia, paranoid type, with depression and anxiety had its onset in service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the onset of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's skin cancer, tic, and mood disorder (major depressive disorder) are all found to be related to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for increased rating of peripheral neuropathy is granted.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a gastrointestinal condition, to include secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's ED and depression are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their relationship to his service-connected back disability. The TDIU claim is also being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammertoes, calluses of the feet, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to a fall during VA medical treatment. The right shoulder disorder is also granted as a result of the same incident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder was granted effective November 12, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and awarded a TDIU from April 20, 2014.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition and TDIU claims are granted with effective dates of April 3, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his in-service experiences.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for MDD due to new evidence showing a possible link between the Veteran's MDD and his military service. The claim is now granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression. The new evidence received since the final denial in May 2010 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.