Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to her military service. Other claimed disabilities were not found to be service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, including PTSD linked to confirmed in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and depression due to incomplete medical records, lack of Social Security Administration records, and need for additional examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying in-service stressors related to PTSD. The veteran's claims for bilateral varicose veins and left knee disorder will also be reviewed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and records to determine the current severity of his low back disability and depression.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to October 3, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression with dysthymic disorder, is related to his military service. The RO must also obtain all outstanding VA medical records and any inpatient/outpatient mental health treatment records from Sewickley Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center.

The veteran's claim for increased rating and total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for additional development of the medical records.

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

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and new and material evidence issues due to additional medical records submitted since the most recent SSOC.

The Board has reopened the claim for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence. The veteran's current diagnoses include dysthymic disorder, major depressive episode, and PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran did not sustain a head injury with loss of consciousness during basic military training, and thus does not have residuals of a head injury. The claims for memory loss, stuttering, sleep disorder, and major depressive disorder were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran claims service connection for his diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, alleging that they were aggravated by events in service. The Board finds the claim requires further development due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of the conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda, stomach ulcers, and depression. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to herbicide exposure in military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including an inguinal hernia, right knee disability, low back disability, right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining unit records to verify stressors and attempting to obtain additional medical evidence. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma with residual anemia, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and mood disorder, is related to his service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and a personality disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is required to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder and whether it was clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service. The veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded for further development.