Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, refractive error, senile cataracts optic neuropathy (claimed as loss of sight, glaucoma and loss of field vision), migraine headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for vertigo was also denied.

The Veteran is entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, effective January 26, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the expansion of the psychiatric disorder claim to include all diagnosed disorders.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD and related psychiatric conditions, including dysthymic disorder, psychosis NOS, depressive disorder NOS, and anxiety disorder. The in-service stressor of witnessing a Thai soldier's brutal murder has been verified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and polysubstance abuse, was denied as she did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a preexisting condition of PTSD or any other diagnosed psychiatric disability in service, nor could it be linked to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of her Substantive Appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, and infertility. The case is now remanded to allow the RO to consider the matter of service connection for infertility as secondary to service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Veteran claims service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, memory loss, inability to sleep, anger management, and speech difficulty. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if any current psychiatric disorders had their onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the validity of his claimed stressors and determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was incurred in service due to stressors he experienced during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's major depressive and psychotic disorders are found to be incurred in or aggravated by service, with the most appropriate theory of entitlement being direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including personality disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled hearing. The type of hearing requested by the Veteran needs to be clarified.

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

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD and major depression, began as a result of combat-related service and have continued since. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for these conditions.