Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case, a new VA examination, and obtaining outstanding records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since November 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further development and adjudication of his TDIU claim, as well as related service connection claims. The RO/AMC will provide a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone result in unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his military service and stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and could not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression, but finds that new evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or link to service. The claim for depression is also denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD. The Board has determined that the current evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD, but finds potential relationships between military service and other psychiatric disorders such as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is causally related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder to include depression, or a respiratory disorder to include bronchitis and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for another VA psychiatric examination to determine if his PTSD meets criteria for a higher rating, and whether he has depression or anxiety disorder as part of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his major depressive disorder is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with episodes of psychosis was denied. The current evaluation is 30 percent, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to obtain substantially gainful employment given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine has been withdrawn. The TDIU issue is being remanded to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran had anxiety symptoms during his tour in Vietnam which persisted post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including inpatient treatment records from Ft. Leonard Army hospital and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, affective disorder, and depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records from the Vet Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for depression and service connection for a bilateral eye disability, as well as his claim for TDIU, were denied. The current rating of 50 percent for depression adequately compensates the Veteran.