Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with chest pain and accelerated heartbeat, to include as secondary to an undiagnosed illness is being remanded due to the need for clarification of her stressor allegations and further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and therefore denied his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric condition, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between his service and any current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's representative has noted that the Veteran needs a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and depression, was denied as there is no competent evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is being remanded as there may be an underlying service-connected condition that could affect his mental health. The right foot disability claim is also being remanded, with a request for in-patient clinical records from Fort Carson.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development including in-patient clinical records and psychiatric examination.,The Veteran's right foot disability claim is being remanded as it may be related to his pre-existing left foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied as there is insufficient evidence to corroborate the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim will now be evaluated on its merits.

The Veteran's chronic pelvic pain and Bell's palsy are service connected. Her acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is not service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are service-connected due to in-service stressors, including participation in burial details during his duty as an administrative specialist.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder were found to be at least as likely as not caused by his military service, specifically his role as a military policeman in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of January 30, 1995 for his service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. The claim was based on direct service connection and there is no evidence prior to this date that can be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Board finds the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's mood disorder, with depressive features, is proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of her service-connected skin disability. The Veteran has so many medical conditions other than her service-connected disabilities that could have direct and indirect effects on emotional status, making it not possible to apportion all or part of her depressive symptoms to one or two medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus, as such disability is already at its maximum rating of 10 percent. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board noted that VA had not obtained all relevant mental health treatment records and that a VA examination was needed to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric disorders were linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depression remains before the Board after a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding his current disability level and employment status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining pertinent records.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder from 50% to 30% was not proper and reinstated the original 50% rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to the Veteran's active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and additional medical records are needed. A VA opinion is requested regarding whether alcohol abuse caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death, and if so, whether it was related to a psychiatric disability and/or PTSD due to service.