Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's panic disorder with depression was granted a 70 percent rating effective April 22, 2010. TDIU was also granted as of that date.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to her service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right groin strain was withdrawn.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder remains open on appeal, as the July 1988 rating decision denying such is not final.,Diabetes mellitus was incurred in active service and is service-connected.,Asthma was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,TMJ dysfunction was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The right shoulder disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may the incurrence of arthritis during such service be presumed.,Erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus).,PTSD and major depressive disorder were incurred in active service and are service-connected.,Dry throat was not caused by active service, as there is no underlying diagnosed disorder residual to tonsillectomy.,A bilateral elbow disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,A rib joint disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The torn right latissimus dorsi muscle was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,Arthritis of the hands was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the incurrence or aggravation of arthritis during such service may not be presumed.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected depression with anxiety, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, and bipolar disorder has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if any of the Veteran's alleged stressor events are corroborated and to seek psychiatric evaluations to determine if he has a current psychiatric disability that is related to his service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for head injury residuals and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD. The Board has determined that additional records are needed to fully evaluate the claims.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims for various conditions, including obsessive compulsive depression, nasal deformity, positive tuberculosis test (claimed as pulmonary tuberculosis), costochondritis, headaches/vertigo, and abdominal pain. The disposition of these cases will be determined based on the outcome of the reopening process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's current depressive disorder is determined to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and degenerative joint disease of the hands.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder is not related to his military service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic gastritis and GERD. The claim for service connection on a secondary basis was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to improper reliance on medical opinion evidence that did not consider all of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be re-adjudicated after a VA examination by a psychiatrist.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The VA also found that the appellant does not have a current psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea versicolor has been found to be the primary cause of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. His right wrist fracture is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to insufficient findings in the VA examination report and the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened and rendered him unemployable, necessitating a remand to obtain updated medical records and adjudicate increased rating claims for his service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as dysthymia and depression, is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected disabilities, including pain from his multiple service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive and anxiety disorder, previously diagnosed as dysthymic disorder, is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has determined that a 70 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, concluding that there was no evidence linking a service-connected disability to his death.