Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of his claimed combat-related stressors and obtaining VA and private medical records. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any identified acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment information and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he is able to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered a remand for an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including whether they were caused by a reported traumatic event of being beaten during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) and a bilateral knee disorder are granted. The claim for the acquired psychiatric disorder is based on personal assault stressor, while the claim for the bilateral knee disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for right talar dislocation and PTSD are on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have recognized POW status, and his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on October 29, 2006 is denied as the care received was not rendered for or associated with his service-connected disabilities and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and consideration of whether the Veteran's diagnoses of Alzheimer's dementia or major depression with anxiety are service related.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining records from the 196th Station Hospital in Mons, Belgium, and providing the Veteran with a VCAA notice regarding alternative evidence sources. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 6, 1999 for service connection for PTSD was denied as the RO had previously denied such a claim in November 1999 and December 2000.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 22, 2003 for a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied. The effective date of the increased rating was assigned on May 22, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now receiving a 50 percent rating for his service-connected PTSD with secondary depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his personnel file and providing him with notice of the information and evidence required to substantiate a claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with a reported stressor that occurred during his period of active military service, and the Board finds this to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's hospitalization in 1968 and scheduling an examination to determine if his depression and anxiety are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression (claimed as secondary to PTSD), and a stomach disorder (claimed as secondary to PTSD). The evidence did not establish that the Veteran had current diagnoses of these conditions or that they were related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, concluding that the Veteran's current symptoms did not meet the criteria for these conditions.