Depression decisions — 2012

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 100 percent disabling since June 13, 2009.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or depression related to his military service, and thus denies both claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher combined rating on account of service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. � 4.25, finding that his combined ratings were accurately calculated both in the June 1998 rating decision and in the February 2012 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his MDD. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 22, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating but denied it as his impairment did not reach total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including depression and anxiety disorder, are not related to his military service. The earliest diagnosis of these conditions is over four decades after he separated from service.

The appellant seeks recognition as a helpless child of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years. The case is REMANDED due to insufficient evidence regarding his condition at the time of his eighteenth birthday.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, and the evidence now supports this claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression with psychosis), and hypertension have also been reopened. The evidence now supports these claims as well.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left knee injuries and depression, do not render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of a reported stressor incident and obtaining VA and private medical records. He also needs to undergo examinations for his knee disabilities and mental health condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his service. The claim was reopened based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with depression and bilateral cataracts, as well as to ensure that all relevant medical records are considered in making these determinations.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from August 13, 2007 through July 19, 2009. For the period after July 20, 2009, his condition did not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for service connection for depression, have been granted. The Veteran is entitled to initial ratings higher than 10 percent for the non-dominant upper extremity and lower extremities, and a rating higher than 30 percent for the dominant upper extremity since February 27, 2009. He also has been granted service connection for depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from a VA Hospital in Houston, Texas.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The Board also determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety and depression, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a chronic condition during his period of active service and resolved all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue, requiring further action by the RO.