Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for low back disability and an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to differentiate the effects of his service-connected anxiety disorder from any nonservice-connected mental disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and finds that new evidence received since the August 2005 rating decision tends to substantiate the Veteran's claim. The Board also finds that service connection is warranted as the Veteran's current psychiatric/psychotic disorder is shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as residuals of a right ankle disability, were denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and ADHD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claims for a seizure disorder (secondary to alcohol abuse) and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information and possibly a VA examination. The issues of service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD are under review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and foot disabilities are found to have caused or aggravated his depression, which is granted as secondary to these conditions. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating of 70%.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding private medical records. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner. The Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's cause of death, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, was determined to be the result of depression that was aggravated by service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether any acquired psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, if so, whether it was not aggravated by service, and if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a separate psychiatric condition other than PTSD and bipolar disorder, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, white matter changes of the brain, generalized joint pain, major depressive disorder, carpal spasms, and prostate cancer. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to contaminants during service in the Gulf War.

The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's PTSD and depression were incurred during his active military service, specifically related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically dysthymic disorder/chronic depression. The Board has determined that further development is necessary to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: (1) seeking an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability, and (2) seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU. The case is being remanded to allow for further development regarding the Veteran's self-employment status during the relevant period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and depression is granted as the claimed stressor event is considered verified, and there is a link between current symptoms and the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as dysthymic disorder and now including major depressive disorder, is manifested by symptoms producing no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.