Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder has been granted, but the current evaluation is still at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disability (depression) are all related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not present in service or shown to be causally related to his military service. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to his time in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and impulse control disorder, is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury that resulted in the current conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was not service-connected and there is no evidence linking it to his active duty service or a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features was granted and assigned a retroactive rating starting from March 31, 2001.

The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show the Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were pre-existing and not aggravated by service. The current diagnosed conditions are not shown to be otherwise related to a disease, injury or event in service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective April 13, 2010. The claim for ovarian cysts remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for depression, to include as secondary to hearing loss, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a mental disorder and his hearing loss disability was manifested by an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment resulting in a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for idiopathic dilated congestive heart cardiomyopathy, a respiratory disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder and major depression), finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty training in July 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as secondary to a low back disability, and also for migraines as secondary to the same low back disability.,The Veteran's depression is attributed to her service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits were terminated due to his status as a fugitive felon. The Board has decided the case must be remanded for clarification on whether the Veteran violated a condition of probation or parole imposed for commission of a felony.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including depressive disorder, schizoaffective disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to his military service. The examiner will also assess whether the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for any acquired psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychologist is asked to address whether the aggravation of a personality disorder during active military service was caused by superimposed injury or disease, and to comment on the significance of a November 1971 complaint of nervous trouble.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of PTSD is likely related to his service in Vietnam, and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension will be addressed upon further development.

The Veteran's heart disability is not service connected, but his psychiatric disability (depression) may be secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and his psychiatric disabilities. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and obtain an updated medical opinion on the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.