Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has depression with a sleep disorder related to his military service and grants this claim. Service connection for PTSD cannot be established as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues include increased evaluations and reopening of service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, coronary disease with dilated cardiomyopathy, residuals of frostbite, headaches, shoulder disability, and depression/anxiety. The claim for an eye disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition, specifically depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether his current psychiatric disability preexisted his active military service and was aggravated by it.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service. The Veteran's claims for PTSD will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to Agent Orange and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding potential personal assault stressors.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including recurrent major depression with psychotic features, was incurred as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression, secondary to a condition of the teeth. The Veteran's testimony regarding his mental health issues does not relate these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability. However, his PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities and whether they are related to service or secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression, has been reopened. Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the correct diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service. The appellant's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for Depression NOS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety and depression is remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination. Other issues related to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy are also being referred back to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability of the shoulders, arms, left hand, or lumbar spine. The acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression is also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination report and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on personal/sexual assault in the military has been granted. The Board also determined that he is entitled to consideration of whether service connection also is warranted for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (depression and bipolar disorder).