Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and whether any other currently diagnosed psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is related to service.

The Veteran's mixed depression and anxiety disorder with associated alcohol dependence more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The RO/AMC will gather any outstanding VA treatment records and obtain private medical records from identified sources, including those related to his skin disorder.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for depression has been withdrawn. The RO/AMC will gather any outstanding VA treatment records and obtain private medical records from identified sources, including those related to his skin disorder.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn. The RO/AMC will gather any outstanding VA treatment records and obtain private medical records from identified sources, including those related to his skin disorder.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis has been withdrawn. The RO/AMC will gather any outstanding VA treatment records and obtain private medical records from identified sources, including those related to his skin disorder.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hair loss has been withdrawn. The RO/AMC will gather any outstanding VA treatment records and obtain private medical records from identified sources, including those related to his skin disorder.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors and the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has granted an initial 100 percent evaluation for the Veteran's mood disorder due to traumatic brain injury from June 29, 2005 to May 21, 2007, based on total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and depression, is due to his willful misconduct during service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses include depression and anxiety disorders, but not PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD. The issue is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder is due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal is already in effect.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his hypertension and to determine if a diagnosis of PTSD can be assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and procuring a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board finds that the service-connected major depression contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death, as it had debilitating effects and general impairment on the Veteran's health to an extent that would render him materially less capable of resisting the effects of other diseases that contributed to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression have been manifested by symptoms productive of occupational and social impairment comparable to no more than reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted, while his claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins, residuals of burns on the hands, and leg scars are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and failed examinations. The Veteran is required to provide information about all treatment received, including VA treatment, since January 2011.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his service-connected anxiety and depression was denied. The current rating of 70 percent is effective from August 4, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), as well as his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease due to VA treatment.

The Veteran's cause of death, sepsis due to a perforated cecum caused by metastatic cancer, is not service-connected as the lung cancer did not have its onset during his military service and was not related to any service-connected conditions.