Depression decisions — 2010

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity during his time in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is related to her military service, including as a result of military sexual trauma. Therefore, service connection for depression is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, specifically depression. The decision resolves in favor of the Veteran due to the relative equipoise of evidence supporting his claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected HIV with anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a mental disorders examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including a depressive disorder. The new evidence submitted did not provide sufficient material to substantiate this claim.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depressive disorders) but denied service connection for other conditions. A 30 percent disability rating was assigned for migraine headaches effective August 29, 2008.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to an in-service personal assault. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the issue can be decided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining medical records, SSA records, and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a seizure disorder with dizziness, loss of memory, and slurred speech. The Veteran's passive aggressive personality disorder existed prior to service and did not undergo an increase in disability during service. Other acquired psychiatric disorders such as depression first manifested after service and are not related to any aspect of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The VA will also schedule a psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in or is related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted as it was incurred during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining military police incident reports and VA examinations to assess his psychiatric disorders and skin disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection was not supported, and denied his request for a higher initial disability evaluation for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the last final denial does not meet the criteria for new and material evidence, thus the claim of recognizing A as the Veteran's helpless child cannot be reopened.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including depressive disorder, delusional disorder, and borderline personality disorder, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with depressive features is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with an in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be reviewed after obtaining VA treatment records from Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the January 1973 rating decision did not contain clear and unmistakable error in denying a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected schizophrenia. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU benefits was also denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to the AMC for a VA examination and further development.