Depression decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral flatfoot disability and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, namely depression, is proximately due to her service-connected bilateral knee disability and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining clinical records from treatment facilities and the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Butler Hospital records, and a supplemental opinion from the December 2009 examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety and denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and thus, service connection for PTSD was denied. The acquired psychiatric disorders were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. This includes obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

Prior to November 16, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD with major depression and alcohol dependence resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,From November 16, 2009, the Veteran's condition continued to result in severe occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected post-operative lumbar laminectomy and denied reopening of his claim for hypertension. The Veteran also has peripheral neuropathy of the feet, which is not service connected.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current adjustment disorder and depression are related to her service, including a reported incident of sexual assault while in the military. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and a chronic low back disorder to include low back pain were denied. The claim for service connection for a chronic left hand disorder is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions were not supported by credible evidence of in-service stressors, leading to a denial of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and denied service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service-connected disabilities, including examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to May 29, 2008. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the increased rating and TDIU claims were also denied. The Board remanded these matters for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and hypertension due to the need for medical examinations and opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and active service.