Depression decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disorder or acquired psychiatric disorder to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to the need for additional evidence and a retrospective medical examination to determine if S.R.C., the Veteran's son, was permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and her service, including in-service personal assaults.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it fails to demonstrate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD, which is characterized by depression, insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and memories, hypervigilance, irritability, outbursts of anger, low energy, avoidance of crowds, fireworks, war movies, and television, social isolation, startle response, survivor's guilt, poor concentration, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, paucity of speech, slowing of psychomotor skills, impaired short term memory, limited judgment, poor appetite, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships, is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to a determination on his claim of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for alcoholism and TDIU due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset of his alcoholism, as well as new arguments raised by the Veteran's representative. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's alcoholism is secondary to his service-connected depression or erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action, including obtaining relevant medical records from various healthcare providers. The effective dates for service connection and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depression, and muscular tenderness of unclear etiology results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining testimony from the Veteran at the General Court-martial of Lieutenant Curry and verifying his role as a confidential source in the investigation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine whether service connection is warranted for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, on a direct and secondary basis.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, which is related to his military service. Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was not established due to lack of combat participation.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's depression was not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected migraine headaches and whether he is unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for further development due to an incomplete report of a VA examination from August 2006. The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, is now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric condition other than PTSD due to lack of credible or corroborated stressors reported by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his service, including any reported in-service stressors.