Depression decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression is service connected as it had its onset during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has vacated its June 2008 decision denying service connection for depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. However, the claim is granted with an initial evaluation of 10 percent for plantar fasciitis of the right foot effective from July 23, 2008.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain records from the Vet Center in Oklahoma City, where the Veteran received treatment for PTSD. The case will also be reviewed to determine if any other psychiatric disorders are present and related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The evidence submitted since the final July 1997 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service. His acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left elbow injury, did not manifest during active service, and is not causally related to such active service. Therefore, service connection for major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left eye injury and anxiety disorder with depression have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete records and additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and stressor development letter. The appellant's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and impulse control disorder are also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including determining appropriate ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder from October 16, 1991 to August 1, 2005.

The Veteran's depression is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 31, 2006. Prior to this date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are dismissed as the claim for depression is part and parcel of his already service-connected PTSD. The Board finds no allegations of errors of fact or law to review.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and thus service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder were denied in August 1994. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include manic depressive disorder, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence but remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed regarding the issues of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations. As a result, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if his current anxiety and depression disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma. However, the claims were denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability related to her service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a personal hearing before the Board at the local office in Indianapolis, Indiana.