Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability have been denied as there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a secondary service connection examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case will be remanded for further examination and determination of whether any stressor events are corroborated and if a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is related to her service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and VA medical records from New York area facilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU was dismissed as the issues were withdrawn. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to her in-service sexual trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and depression are found to be service-connected. Fatigue is secondary to his service-connected chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim was not reopened.,The Board denied service connection for residuals of a neck injury and back disability. The Veteran's claims were not reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, as well as the issuance of a statement of the case on several service connection claims.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was initially granted with a 30 percent evaluation, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflected her symptoms without warranting an increase.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder NOS, are related to his service. The claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The stressors he experienced in Vietnam have been deemed sufficient under the revised regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide a new examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has denied the underlying claim as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is granted as the evidence shows that he has suffered from symptoms since his separation from service and there is credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression or any other psychiatric disorder separate from his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is denied.

Service connection for alcoholism, glaucoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), amoebic dysentery, cockroach bite, cyst on the buttock, and residual sebaceous cyst scar of shoulder is denied.,There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by Major Depressive Disorder due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner found no evidence of a major mental health issue during service and noted the Veteran's long history of heavy alcohol use.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant treatment records. The claim for TDIU will be considered in conjunction with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 5, 2008. The claim for a TDIU prior to July 15, 2008 remains unresolved.