Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating for a 10 percent disability. The VA examiner found that his PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD and associated major depressive disorder are incurred in service due to traumatic experiences during his military service. The Board also notes that there is no indication of liver disease while in the military or for many years after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand directive.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling from November 1, 2007 forward. The Board denied an increased rating for the period prior to November 1, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was incurred during active military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and depression are related to his service in Vietnam. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected chronic synovitis of the left knee was denied. The issue regarding service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected chronic synovitis of the left knee is also addressed.,The Veteran requested to reopen his claims for service connection for fallen arches of the bilateral feet and for depression as secondary to his service-connected chronic synovitis of the left knee. His request was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including depression, is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected seizure disorder. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Board has remanded the claim due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine whether the appellant needs aid and attendance (A&A) or is housebound (HB).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final denial indicates that the appellant currently suffers from these conditions, which are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, and initial and maximum ratings for PTSD and substance abuse are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link between the depression and the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is found to be related to service. The diagnosis of PTSD was not met due to the number of avoidance or numbing symptoms, but the stressors were deemed sufficient for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's major depression is found to be related to her service-connected disabilities, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, records review, and reconsideration of his disability ratings under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder were initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 2007. From that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and psychiatric disorder are not service-connected, as the former is due to his own drug use during service, which was willful misconduct. The latter does not meet the criteria for presumptive or direct service connection.