Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues are whether he should receive an increased disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and polysubstance dependence, and whether his abdominal and splenic disability, status post splenectomy, is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to December 1, 2009 and increased to 70% as of June 9, 2014. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective June 9, 2014.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal issues, eye problems, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are necessary to address the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service and his service-connected recurrent major depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his depression, head injury, hearing loss, and TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to her service. The VA must obtain a copy of an addendum opinion and any mental health evaluations from her service, as well as lay statements supporting her claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the March 2014 VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection based on inservice sexual assault.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's PTSD with schizophrenia and MDD are related to her military service, including a personal assault. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain service and post-service medical records, as well as an examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and SSA records, conducting examinations, and reviewing the medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression) is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic pain and acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, were not caused by VA care or treatment. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the record is incomplete and needs to be supplemented with private psychiatric records from Dr. SZK, and then the claim will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and securing the Veteran's complete service personnel records. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder, dysthymia, depression, complicated bereavement), to include PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The heart disorder claim remains pending as it involves secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, including an in-service B-52 aircraft fire incident. The claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.