Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with depression, which is already rated at 100 percent, precludes him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment due to his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine if he currently suffers from an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of any verified stressor(s), and whether his current conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70% since April 29, 2004. The Court remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD (claimed as depression with stress), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, major depression, bilateral foot disorder, headache disorder, and heart disorder (atriial fibrillation) have been granted. The bilateral foot disorder claim is denied as not being related to service. The headaches are considered a pre-existing condition that was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for alcoholic dementia, depression, lung disability (asbestos exposure), and hearing loss are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder but failed to link these conditions to service. Additional evidence is needed, such as personnel records from his AWOL period in 1979.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of moderate, recurrent major depressive disorder is as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining new evidence and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his service.

The Board is remanding the case to verify a military service stressor that sustained enemy attacks in Vietnam, which could potentially establish service connection for PTSD and depression.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate notice and possible VA examination issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and asthma/lung disorder to the RO for further development. The claim of service connection for depression is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to new evidence, but finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for benefits as his additional disability is not attributable to VA negligence or fault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical dysplasia, and trochanteric bursitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and her military service.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete service records and need to verify periods of active duty.

The Board has decided the case requires additional development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran sustained a traumatic brain injury during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to his military service or his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and photophobia and nausea as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches have been denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines has also been denied, and he is not shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's service connection claim as entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded for further development of his VA medical records and for a VA psychiatric examination.