Depression decisions — 2010

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and anxiety disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The low back disability was also not linked to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and renal disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining records from his motor vehicle accident during service and SSA/SSI records. Further medical nexus opinions will also be needed to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, finding that no informal or formal claim was received prior to March 20, 2002.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board found no evidence of a current hepatitis disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as depression related to service. The lung disorder was not shown to be directly related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for corrected VCAA notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, and chronic pain syndrome. The Veteran is not shown to be suffering from chronic pain syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service or exposure to ionizing radiation. Service connection was denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's alcoholism and its disabling effects prevented him from pursuing a program of education for 7 years, 4 months, and 24 days. Therefore, an extension of the October 31, 2008 delimiting date for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and the Veteran's refusal to attend a VA examination. The case will be returned for further development, including another examination by a different provider.

The Veteran's service connection claim for depression is granted, as the Board finds that his current depression was incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, effectively resolving the Veteran's appeal on this issue. As a result, there remains no case in controversy regarding his claim of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or other acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of verified in-service stressor and insufficient evidence linking the condition to active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to incomplete adjudication of the alcohol abuse disability secondary to PTSD, and the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders (depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder) were aggravated as a result of his active service from July 1977 to April 1978, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of exposure to incoming fire and other psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, was incurred in service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability manifested by muscle spasms and respiratory disorder (to include sleep apnea) are not attributable to her active duty service.