Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to allow for a psychiatric examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims under recent changes in VA regulations regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a verified stressor related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as recurrent depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is established due to a current diagnosis linked to her military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and other diagnoses. The case will be remanded for additional examination and readjudication.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's service aggravated his current psychiatric disabilities, and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depression and organic brain syndrome with headaches, dizziness and tinnitus was denied as his claim is a freestanding claim that cannot be considered due to the finality of previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to March 1, 2010 and has been rated at 70 percent since that date. The Board granted service connection for Tietze syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, and sebhorrheic dermatitis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depression is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional development of his claims file, including treatment records from Advanced Therapeutic Services and any VA treatment he may have received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a psychiatric examination to determine if her current psychiatric conditions are related to service. Graves' Disease and residuals of a right toe fracture will also be examined.

The Board finds that the current medical evidence is inadequate to determine whether the Veteran's disability rating for infectious hepatitis should be increased or if his major depressive disorder is secondary to service-connected infectious hepatitis. Therefore, a new VA examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is moot because his psychiatric manifestations are already accounted for in the established service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for manic depression has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to insufficient information provided regarding the alleged stressors. Additional development is needed to corroborate these events and determine if they are sufficient to establish PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression should be remanded due to insufficient information provided by the RO regarding stressor verification. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disability related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety and depression are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and for further examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, but the appellant is seeking DIC benefits under a different provision of law. The Board finds that the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The Veteran's mental health symptoms during and after service are supported by his own testimony, the testimony of lay witnesses, and VA treatment records.