Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any chronic residuals from his heat stroke and heat exhaustion incidents. The Board finds that he does not have a current diagnosis of such residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depressive disorder began during service and has continued since, granting service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for Asperger's disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depression and lumbosacral strain, as well as his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The decision also noted that his TDIU claim was reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome was rated at 40 percent effective June 4, 2008. Prior to that date, the rating for IDS was increased from 20 percent.

The Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) are not service-connected. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for reactive depression, finding that it is at least in part due to the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for an umbilical hernia was denied, and her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are found to be related to his military service, including exposure to hostile military activity in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is supported by medical records, and his statements regarding in-service stressors have been corroborated through independent evidence. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder with psychotic features and depression, were not incurred or aggravated by his service. The evidence did not support a link between his in-service experiences and his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current adjustment disorder is caused or aggravated by her service-connected pelvic fracture and considering additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for depression and a lumbosacral herniated nucleus pulposus, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the lower left and right extremities. The Veteran's claims were remanded to issue statements of the case on these issues.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected depression prior to March 20, 2007 and denied entitlement to an increased rating prior to that date. The effective date of TDIU was also granted.

Service connection for PTSD with major depression was granted, effective from March 14, 2003.

The Veteran's depression with PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment, resulting in a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed stressors and determine if he has PTSD as a result of in-service experiences. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is also being remanded because it is intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection for PTSD with depression is granted, as there is competent medical evidence of a diagnosis and credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor.