Depression decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and denied a higher rating for Gastric Disorder of Psychogenic Origin. The decision is mixed as it grants one condition but denies the other.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus are not found to be related to her service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, claimed as secondary to COPD, was denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service. This includes obtaining a VA examination and seeking additional records from SSA.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending before the Court.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a major depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD that conforms with the DSM-IV criteria. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition that meets the requirements for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of asbestosis or an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) incurred in service, and thus the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current bipolar disorder is related to his service.

The Veteran is seeking a higher initial rating for her service-connected major depressive disorder. The case has been remanded to obtain additional treatment records and conduct a new VA examination to distinguish the symptoms attributable to her service-connected condition from those caused by non-service connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional information about his claimed stressors and a VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disorders related to his service or gastrointestinal surgery.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension, a digestive system disorder, multiple joint pain, and depression. The appeals are now substantiated.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 50 percent from May 30, 2002. The rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is also granted at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records from Fort Sam Houston.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and alcohol dependence, was incurred during his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of direct or secondary service connection for the left knee disorder, and the skin and right knee disorders do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disability, headaches, memory loss, and a psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.