Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a personal assault in service, and her depression is also considered as part of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability were aggravated by his active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability related to service or his service-connected diverticulitis, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is granted as service connected due to in-service sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Brooklyn prior to June 2006 and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The previously denied claim for service connection for asbestosis (claimed as pneumoconiosis) has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD and whether it can be confirmed that any claimed in-service stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The examiner must also provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran's identified stressors are related to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and whether the disorder had its onset during his period of military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant was denied as she did not meet the criteria for such assistance due to her service-connected disabilities. The Veteran has been granted other benefits, but still needs further VA examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have not been found to warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the service connection claim for a nervous condition, but did consider the claim of bipolar disorder. The decision is mixed as it addressed both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of a VA examination report and an additional psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran currently has PTSD related to his in-service stressor. The rating for schizophrenia remains on hold until the RO considers the October 2010 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's schizophrenia and major depression are related to his exposure to air pollution from oil fires in Kuwait during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for scar residuals of an appendectomy and that the Veteran failed to appear for his scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations to evaluate her service-connected major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with major depression is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.