Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a major depressive disorder and somatoform disorder, which are found to have begun during active service and caused or aggravated by multiple service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, hypertension (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), erectile dysfunction (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus or hypogonadism), and hypogonadism (claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure) have all been denied. The Veteran's depression is already service-connected through his PTSD, and hypertension does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the Veteran's psychiatric disability and his adult daughter's mental health condition. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his depressive disorder and TDIU, while his adult daughter seeks recognition as a helpless child due to her own mental health issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors are sufficient to cause his current psychiatric symptoms and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating for dental disability. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for this purpose.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a gynecological disorder, respiratory disorder, and tiredness and enlarged thyroid. The claim for major depressive disorder is granted as it was incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a major depressive disorder that he believes is related to his service-connected bilateral tibia stress fractures. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination and notice regarding secondary service connection, is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, and depressive disorder, was incurred during his military service. However, there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory disability to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the case is remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a skin disorder (mucous patch), left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is not related to his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, alternatively diagnosed as major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, can be reasonably disassociated from his military service. The Board finds the contentions of the Veteran concerning his post-service continuity of depression symptoms related to his inservice depression credible.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been service-connected, with a current disability rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD and his depressive disorder is unrelated to service. The bilateral knee disorder claim also fails as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 15, 2007. The Board finds that the criteria for a total rating have been met throughout the period on appeal and grants a total rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder originated in service and granted service connection for this condition.