Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder was not caused or aggravated by service, and is not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diplopia has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection. The Board also found that there is no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for depression.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, ADHD, depression, and dysthymia, prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA mental health records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, particularly the alleged sexual assaults during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and examinations, including a skin examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU, as well as a claim regarding clear and unmistakable error in an August 2002 rating decision. The case is being remanded to allow the RO to develop these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing depression was worsened by his service-connected Hepatitis C, and granted service connection for depression as secondary to Hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an addendum opinion from the November 2009 VA examiner to address whether his current psychiatric condition, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, had its onset during active service. The Veteran is also requested to provide SSA records related to his Social Security Administration disability benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder, effective from May 1, 1994 to July 30, 2001, was denied by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, IBS, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The other claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's residuals of a broken back disability is service-connected, as it was incurred in active service and not due to willful misconduct. The claim for major depressive disorder also supports this decision.

Prior to April 7, 2008, the appellant's major depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent disabling.,From April 7, 2008, the appellant's major depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of lower extremities due to vestibular neuropathy was denied. The issue of service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was also addressed but the rating assigned is not applicable as it pertains to special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection as it was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain. The Veteran's psychotic disorder, presumed to have been incurred post-service due to a head injury in 1980, is also granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for a depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders is being remanded due to incomplete verification of claimed stressors during service. The Board will consider all diagnosed conditions, including PTSD, in determining whether they are related to military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder (mixed anxiety and depression), was determined to be related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability found to be present.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from his time in a correctional facility and providing him with an examination by a psychiatrist.