Depression decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his active service, and therefore, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression have resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred as a result of his active service. The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 2010, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was manifested by symptoms such as depressed mood, suspiciousness, panic attacks, nightmares, irritability, paranoia, outbursts of anger and rage, auditory hallucination, social isolation, suicidal ideation, impaired judgment and thinking, disturbance of mood and motivation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene. The Board found that these symptoms warranted a 70 percent rating from March 21, 2005 through August 9, 2010.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. Service connection is also granted for benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Board finds no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in either ear, but grants service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected cephalgia has been denied. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disorder (including dementia and depressive disorder) remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features and depression, is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding it presumptively incurred due to herbicide exposure during active duty. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder NOS) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and a skin condition. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus with an effective date of January 30, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The rating for his psychological disorder remains at 10 percent, effective from October 2002.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective October 2006. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia and depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since September 2, 2003. The disability is characterized by severe impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU rating were denied. The Veteran was service-connected for DDD of the lumbosacral spine, depressive disorder, sleep apnea, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to December 12, 2005 colonoscopy was denied as the medical evidence does not show that the Veteran has a qualifying additional disability in the form of a lumbar spine disorder.