Depression decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, as secondary to headaches, have been denied. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between his current conditions and active duty.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability and concluded that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is manifested by sleep disturbance, depressed mood, anxiety, exaggerated startle response, and hypervigilance, resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. He was granted a 30 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's major depression is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are primarily manifested by anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances without significant impairment in other areas such as speech, memory, or mood.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus denying his claims for special monthly compensation based on these grounds.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional left shoulder disability as a result of VA treatment.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor or his current psychiatric conditions, leading to a denial of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether an informal claim has been presented to reopen the appellant's previously denied claim for service connection for a depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need to verify a specific incident during his service.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not found to be service-connected. However, her diagnosed psychiatric disorder (Somatoform Disorder and Major Depression) is considered service-connected based on direct evidence of a link between the condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records from the Huntington VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for PTSD with major depression and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression was denied. The RO continued the Veteran's disability rating at 30 percent, effective June 3, 1994.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder has been characterized by depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The initial rating of 30% for the period prior to November 21, 2007, was granted; a higher rating of 50% is now granted from that date. For the period beginning May 27, 2009, the Veteran's psychiatric disorder has been characterized by persistent depression and suicidal ideation, leading to a grant of a 70% initial disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial evaluation of PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied. The VA examiner found the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to a level that would warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service experiences and continuing symptoms.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including her personality disorder, were aggravated by an in-service sexual assault. Therefore, service connection for aggravation of a personality disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for residuals of femoral artery injury and scar residuals of femoral artery injury are denied.