Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection in full, including reopening of previously denied claims and granting new evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a head scar, residual of a traumatic head injury in November 2003. The Veteran has submitted new evidence that does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if the Veteran currently has left shoulder and right knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The examination results will be used to assess whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's depression is found to be proximately due to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for further examination. The issue of entitlement to service connection for shoulder disability and headaches has been referred back to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with insomnia, major depression with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and T12 compression fracture, service connection for migraine headaches, COPD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim to reopen a COPD claim is referred to the RO.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be incurred in service, with the aggravation of a pre-existing condition by treatment for service-connected disabilities contributing to the severity of the depression.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records from a Vet Center.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional records are needed and an examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his VA treatment records and consideration of his claim for a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration, including the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the vocational rehabilitation training claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stroke, high cholesterol (withdrawn), bilateral hearing loss, left and right carpal tunnel syndromes, low back disability with radiculopathy, depression, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ have all been denied. The Board has also dismissed the appeal regarding high cholesterol due to withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder, NOS. The decision finds that there is at least a 50% probability that his current anxiety disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence related to alleged in-service stressors and current diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, with anxiety, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer and stress experienced in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing proper VCAA notice and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The rating for a left foot callous, service connection for skin rash of the left ankle, and reopening claims for right knee disorder, depression, and tinnitus are all on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective March 3, 2006. The RO granted a temporary 100 percent rating for hospitalization in excess of 21 days from December 30, 2007 to January 31, 2008 and from March 4, 2008 to May 31, 2008. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened but denied on the merits.