Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a statement of the case on his low back disability claim and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his psychiatric condition, knee arthritis, hip disability, low back disability, and right shoulder disability. The examiner should also determine if these disabilities are related to service or not.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors during his active duty as a corpsman at the United States Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois are credible and supported by medical evidence. The Board also found no other psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, as there is no evidence establishing a nexus between his current psychiatric disorder and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a review by the appellant's representative and preparation of a statement on his behalf. The claim is also being considered for service connection for other psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's GAD and depression are currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation due to the presence of significant cognitive impairment from nonservice-connected dementia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and dental trauma. The initial disability ratings for left wrist fracture residuals and bilateral mandibular jaw fracture residuals were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of his service personnel records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in mild impairment from April 14, 2003 to July 27, 2005 and moderate impairment beginning July 27, 2005. The claim for increased rating was denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and drug dependency. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence of combat exposure or non-combat stressors supporting a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have any other diagnosed psychiatric disability, such as recurrent major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence, that could be linked to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not ready for decision and requires additional development of his medical records from Fort Hamilton VA Medical Center.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and her symptoms are better explained by other conditions such as alcohol dependency and borderline personality disorder. The in-service stressors were not corroborated, and there is no evidence to support the claimed service connection.

The Board found credible evidence of the Veteran's in-service personal assault stressor and granted service connection for PTSD, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a diagnosed psychiatric condition (depression) that was present since service and contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety) and sleep deprivation were denied. The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed sleep deprivation disability or any persistent symptoms thereof. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability related to his service. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for compensation purposes and to consider her claims for increased evaluations and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type and depressive disorder effective December 15, 2006. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted in December 1989.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a medical examination. The TDIU issue will be reconsidered after addressing the newly raised claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability.