Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a stroke, mental disability (depression with psychotic features), and heart disability (coronary artery disease) have been denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after discharge. The current disabilities are not shown to be causally related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing personnel records and verifying service stressors. The claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and fibromyalgia will be addressed along with the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, had its onset during his period of active service and is related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability aided or lent assistance to the production of his death from methadone toxicity, and thus service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and because adjudication of the tuberculosis claim may impact the depression claim. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered, including obtaining additional treatment records from the Charleston VAMC.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder, which he claims is related to his military service or due to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining mental health records from his period of active duty and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran was emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by her husband during active duty service from June 1979 to June 1983. The examiner is also requested to provide an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disorder is due to such abuse or military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and dysthymia, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including dysthymia, depression disorder, and anxiety disorder, is attributable to his service-connected diabetes. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that depression did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not otherwise indicate that it is related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and verifying any in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of records, including SSA disability benefits and private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and depression, secondary to chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran's claims are based on direct evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms during the period from September 18, 2000 to June 12, 2003 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 100 percent schedular evaluation for the Veteran's PTSD with depression, finding that the appropriate effective date is August 4, 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, chronic bronchitis, major depressive disorder, or TMJ syndrome related to service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to provide specific dates, names, and locations relative to any claimed stressors. An attempt should be made to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors through the appropriate channels. A VA psychiatric examination is also required.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but these claims were ultimately denied as the evidence did not establish a link between the claimed conditions and service.