Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD, anxiety, and depression; a cervical spine disability; a lumbar spine disability; and residuals of a head injury (including headaches) due to in-service trauma.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current chronic maxillary sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a neck disability or depression that is related to his military service and denied both claims.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to her military service, and she is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to establish a direct link between her anxiety and major depression and her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, characterized by depression, had its onset during service and is etiologically related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, characterized by depression, is granted.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional clarification on whether the Veteran's depression is causally related to service. The AMC/RO must ensure that all development actions have been conducted and completed in full.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic stress disorder was granted, with an effective date of November 1999. The case is now pending on remand to determine if service connection should be established for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for translations of Spanish-language documents in the claims file. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these documents are translated and added to the record.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including dysthymic and depressive disorders, clearly pre-existed service. The Board also found that his personality disorder was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and review of all relevant records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that there is no competent evidence relating his current psychiatric conditions to active military service.

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

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is reasonably shown to be related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, and service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by a major depressive episode, which developed during his active service and contributed to his suicide. As such, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA examination records and updated treatment reports.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a right foot disability in service or until many years thereafter, and denied service connection for the Veteran's right foot disability. The Board also found that there was not enough evidence to establish that the Veteran's depression is related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated to consider whether a higher rating is warranted on the basis of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected prostatitis and his March 2008 diagnoses of depression and anxiety. The cause of death is being addressed by another examiner.