Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal regarding an effective date prior to July 31, 1995 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed. The issues concerning service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a low back disorder have also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depression, dysthymia, neurosis with hypochondriasis and depressive features, anxiety, and a mood disorder. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on reported in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, and the Veteran's other non-PTSD psychiatric disorders are being evaluated based on their relationship to his in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The non-PTSD conditions are related to his history of alcohol and substance abuse post-service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, as it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as to service connection for PTSD, finding that his current psychiatric disability did not result from or was aggravated by his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and/or major depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of hypertension, but did not address the other issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported symptoms of short term memory loss, noise sensitivity, anxiety, depression, sudden anger, and mood swings are not related to his in-service head injury or concussion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are service-connected as they are related to his active duty service in Southwest Asia (SWA), specifically his participation in combat operations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including somatization disorder and anxiety disorder with depression, are related to his service-connected headache disorder. The right shoulder injury is also found to be secondary to the service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, along with major depressive disorder and PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 9, 2006. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains denied. Service connection for PTSD and memory loss are also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals on the issues of increased evaluations for her service-connected major depressive disorder, sarcoidosis with asthma, migraine headaches and hypertension; as well as entitlement to service connection for sinusitis.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has expanded the appeal to include both PTSD and psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression. The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to address whether he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD based on his verified stressor.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's reported stressors are sufficient for a diagnosis of PTSD and whether his current psychiatric conditions, including depression with psychotic features, are related to service.