Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the link between his current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and his military service. Additional evidence from private therapists and treatment records are also needed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his service. The Veteran is requested to provide medical records from Dr. Rupinder Kaur, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if there is a link between his service and any current acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depression, sleep problems and fatigue, muscle and joint aches, headaches, sinusitis, acid peptic disease with reflux symptoms, and lumbar strain have been granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10 percent evaluation for acid peptic disease with reflux symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral shoulder disability, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was granted effective January 6, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

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

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with dysthymia has been rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2004. The Board has now determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is warranted due to the severity of her symptoms.

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

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia with major depressive disorder renders him unable to adequately attend to the needs of daily living without the regular assistance of another person, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's claims are now addressed on their merits.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the appellant's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for depression with anxiety was granted, but the current assigned disability evaluation of 30 percent is maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (sinus arrhythmia), did not render him unemployable prior to February 11, 2005. Therefore, the effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression with anxiety, asthma, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected adjustment reaction with anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence regarding the effects of his service-connected condition on his overall psychiatric impairment, including whether it is possible to distinguish the symptoms and effects of his service-connected disability from any nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for service-connected lumbar spine disability and conversion reaction with depression and anxiety are being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, arthralgias in multiple joints, headaches, and fatigue, idiopathic fasciculation (muscle twitching), tinnitus, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knees, left shoulder tendonitis, post-operative scar tissue, and chronic sinusitis with nosebleeds, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.