Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain all outstanding records from VAMC Philadelphia related to the Veteran's treatment. The appeal will be remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is currently rated at 30 percent, effective April 10, 2009. The Board found that the symptoms warrant this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to extenuating circumstances preventing her from appearing for a scheduled hearing. Her request for rescheduling the hearing has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, are related to his service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions based on their direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a mood disorder due to a general medical condition, major depressive disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of left ear infections, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) have been reopened. However, the new evidence does not provide a valid diagnosis related to confirmed in-service stressors or establish a medical relationship with his pre-existing conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The evidence now shows that his current depression is related to his service-connected pes planus and cyst of the flexor tendon, right great toe with excision of plantar fibromatosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled hearing and to clarify his representation status. The issue of service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's contention that he experienced ringing in his ears during service and has had ongoing issues with tinnitus since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding of chronicity or aggravation in service. The lung disability (asbestosis) claim was also denied due to lack of objective medical evidence during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including dysthymia and mood disorder. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and related conditions (anxiety, depression, insomnia) as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on in-service stressors involving witnessing hostile small arms fire during Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, bipolar manic depression, and PTSD. The RO's previous decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and examining the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder associated with migraine headaches and migraine headaches, are shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the appellant's complete Mayo Clinic medical treatment records, including his psychiatric records from 1966 to August 2000 and April 2006. The case is then remanded for a new VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability, such as PTSD or major depressive disorder, was caused by the appellant's service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD. However, he is granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of a specific stressor and an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating required for non-service connected pension benefits.