Depression decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental conditions. The evidence submitted was found not new or material.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his symptoms are related to his combat experiences in Vietnam and granting him this benefit. The issue of reopening his previously denied claim for an acquired psychiatric condition is also resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression, is being remanded due to the need for further development of his claims.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been characterized by irritability, sleep disturbances, nightmares, depression, impaired recent memory, and occasional auditory hallucinations, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent rating have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a psychiatric examination to determine the current level of severity of the service-connected depressive disorder. The Veteran's TDIU rating claim is also part of this appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in Vietnam exposed him to wounded military personnel, leading to his current diagnosis of PTSD. The claim is granted as the evidence supports a link between his service and his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The VA examiner stated that there was insufficient evidence to state that the Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service traumatic event or stressor, and the weight of the competent medical evidence is against a nexus between the post-service diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and service.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Impulse Control Disorder, a neurological condition due to traumatic brain injury, and residuals of pneumonia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder caused deficiencies in most areas of his life since August 24, 2006, warranting a disability evaluation of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50 percent disability rating for major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder but granted service connection for depression. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions include depression, dysthymia, and a nonspecified mood disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to produce evidence of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of alleged stressful experiences and additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claim is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and service connection for dysthymic disorder/depressive disorder. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the June 2010 VA examination report is inadequate for adjudication purposes and requires remand for an additional examination by another examiner. The Veteran's mental health history, including her assertions of depression during service, must be considered in determining whether she has a current psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and to reconsider the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for psychiatric disability other than PTSD (to include anxiety and depression), testicle disability, and prostate disability are also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, dysthymia, and obsessive compulsive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.