Depression decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and social phobia does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent due to his symptoms not causing total social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for an examination and updated VA treatment records, as well as clarification on the extent of his occupational impairment due solely to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and depression. The case is REMANDED to allow for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether her claimed stressor (fear of incoming and outgoing fire) is sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including gathering of VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current mental health disorder was incurred in or as a result of active duty service.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor related to being falsely accused of rape, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for any psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding his mental disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is not related to his service, while finding a personality disorder and granting service connection for it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and other psychiatric disorders related to her service. The AMC is also tasked with verifying the dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood, is not service-connected. The VA medical facility did not negligently cause the Veteran to contract Hepatitis B from a prostate biopsy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to in-service personal assaults. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective November 9, 1998 due to unemployability caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder with anxiety, lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions are related to active service. Bipolar disorder is found to be related to service due to its onset during service and the Veteran's history of psychiatric symptoms since separation. Erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately caused by service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, and awarded a compensable evaluation for diplopia of the left eye. The claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is moot as a higher rating is in effect.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected cervical spine DJD was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for left and right C7 radiculopathy has been granted earlier than April 28, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an examination to determine if his current major depressive disorder had its onset during service or is otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, and depression, as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical development.