Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and determine if there are any new or material issues related to his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; a low back disability; and a bilateral hip disability were denied. The Veteran had reported experiencing stressors during World War II typhoons but his STRs did not show any treatment or diagnosis of a nervous disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the underlying claim as there is no evidence to support a diagnosis or link between his claimed in-service stressor and his current PTSD. The depression claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and alcohol abuse. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for skin cancer was reopened and granted. However, his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his current symptoms and any in-service stressor.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, either directly or as a result of aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Board found that the cause of death was due to multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than his service-connected depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of the credibility of the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 15, 2006 for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for scars was denied as the earliest possible effective date is November 15, 2006.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 7, 2009 for compensation for MDD associated with scarring was also denied as the earliest possible effective date is January 7, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to clarify the nature and onset of his claimed psychiatric and respiratory disabilities, as well as any relationship to service. The examinations will also determine if there was chemical exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to military service or caused by substance abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including potential service connection based on aggravation by pre-existing conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 2008 for the award of a 50 percent rating for mood disorder, NOS. The Veteran's symptoms and disability picture during this period more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 9, 2010 for service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent with psychotic features and polysubstance abuse due to lack of a pending claim prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder claims are granted, but due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the diagnosis of PTSD, a clear link between current symptoms and service is not established. The depression claim was also reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including MDD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder, is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar vertebra fracture has completely healed and does not contribute to his current symptoms, limitations, or neurological deficits associated with nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease, stenosis, spurring, and residuals of herniated disc at L5-S1. The claim for an initial, compensable rating for lumbar vertebra fracture is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression is related to his active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's personality disorder pre-existed military service and was aggravated during service. The appeal is currently in a 'mixed' disposition as some issues may be granted while others are not.