Depression decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD and dysthymia/depressive disorder, and for a neck disability and headaches. The claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including obsessive compulsive disorder (claimed as a nervous disorder), is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether any current psychiatric disorder had its onset in service, as well as a determination of whether it is as likely as not that such disorders are related to service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a VA Form 21-4142 from Dr. Harsh Dalal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or the conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, somatization disorder, and undifferentiated somatoform disorder, were not shown to be related to service or service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of March 9, 2005. The decision also addressed his TDIU and competency to handle VA funds matters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental condition, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination provided. The examiner did not consider possible diagnoses other than PTSD and must be asked to provide an opinion regarding whether any diagnosed mental disorder is related to his combat service in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for his cervical spine, bladder disability, and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied, while the claim to reopen his low back disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, injuries due to blunt impact to the head, was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence linking his psychiatric disorders to active duty service and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The decision also grants secondary service connection for her major depressive disorder due to a service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been remanded due to procedural defects and the need for additional evidence. The case will be reconsidered after obtaining updated medical records and addressing potential other diagnoses.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, headaches (claimed as migraines), and depressive disorder (claimed as nerves) have been denied. The evidence does not establish a link between the current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, a heart disorder, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorder are all denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For his acquired psychiatric disability, the Board noted no PTSD diagnosis but diagnosed him with depression and schizoaffective disorder, finding these conditions were more likely related to post-service on-the-job trauma rather than service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to service, granting her claim for service connection.