Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. He also meets criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The case is being remanded to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders found during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder not otherwise specified, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military experiences in Iraq.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, hearing loss, liver disability (including cirrhosis and hepatitis C), psychiatric disability (including PTSD and MDD), hypertension, asbestosis, residuals of a scrape injury to the back, right elbow disability, and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is presumed to have been incurred during active military service due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder. The Board denied service connection for hypertension and CAD with heart attack as secondary to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 12, 2008. The Board finds that the current rating of 50 percent adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected PTSD disability and an evaluation of whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and personnel records. The Board will also consider whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder had its onset during his active duty or is otherwise related to his active duty.

The Board found that the severance decisions for service connection were improper due to lack of evidence showing actual exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence related to combat status and verified stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for depression and PTSD, but denied her claim for bipolar disorder. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder (depression) or skin condition (eczema), and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and ensuring all necessary actions have been completed.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and a psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression. The Veteran's claims were based on his participation in the military and potential Gulf War exposure.

The Board found no clinical diagnosis of vertigo and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo. The psychiatric condition claims, including depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's, are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.