Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since April 6, 2005. This rating is based on the severity of her symptoms and their impact on her occupational and social functioning.

The Board has expanded the issue to include any acquired psychiatric disability due to conflicting diagnoses. A VA psychiatric examination and nexus opinion are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current depressive disorder and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current depression and his military service, leading to a denial of the claim. The Veteran's Gulf War Syndrome claim was also denied as there is no objective medical evidence showing chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or combination of illnesses.

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a verified stressor involving his participation in the recovery of tanker explosion survivors at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD, which are considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, verifying an in-service stressor, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD or a depressive disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for depression and mood disorder is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience during a period prior to April 25, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his employment issues are due to non-service connected conditions and psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability, head injury residuals, neck fracture with neck pain, and back fracture with back pain. The Board found that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service due to the Veteran's own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence and the need to locate VA treatment records from his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD or major depressive disorder that was incurred in service and denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records, clarifying the Veteran's claims, and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees have been reopened. However, new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a mood disorder with depression are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and the relationship between his heart disability and any medication he may be taking for PTSD.