Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a major depressive disorder, representing a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently carry a primary diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his PTSD with depression has been remanded due to outstanding VA examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was reopened and granted. The claim for a back disability remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depressive Disorder, is related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression and anxiety, as well as secondary service connection for alcohol abuse (as a result of PTSD). The Veteran's current diagnoses are based on in-service stressors.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric condition during service or within the presumptive period, and concluded that the Veteran's current depression is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, not including PTSD, is currently under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including depression, a neck scar, Meniere's disease, and bilateral leg paralysis. The new and material evidence claims were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and consideration of whether his psychiatric disability, including depression and bipolar II disorder, is a residual of his Hodgkin's disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current acquired psychiatric disability, identified as depressive disorder NOS and generalized anxiety disorder, which is due to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD that began in service or is related to his service. However, the Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected left arm disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining buddy statements and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently found acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for examinations to assess his knee disabilities and depression.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability found, including PTSD. The Veteran is also to be provided with an opinion regarding whether his current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with depression, and panic attacks, is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for depression is set at May 3, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, characterized as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and a secondary mood disorder due to medical condition, has been rated at 30 percent since March 21, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar degenerative disk disease, moderate at L5-S1, was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.