Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, depression, is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The heart disorder was also found not to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen her previously denied claims of hearing loss and tinnitus. The right wrist ganglion cyst was not rated compensable, and no other conditions met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and panic disorder are not etiologically related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and to conduct examinations for the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for substantial compliance with its previous remand directives. The case is now being returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disability (namely depression) are secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, back disability, and left knee disability were denied as no evidence of a disease or injury related to these conditions was found during his active duty or any other period of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disability, back disability, glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for initial rating for depression was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, right hand tenosynovitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (dysthymic disorder and depression).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to address questions of etiology related to service connection and aggravation, including depression. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination and reviewing all relevant records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be considered again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, provide a VA examination for all claimed conditions, and determine the nature and etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder are currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's current major depressive disorder and related sleep impairment symptoms are due to service in Desert Storm. His bilateral great toe osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or are not attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a comprehensive examination to consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their combined effect on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran currently has such a condition.,Ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicides during military service.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes, as they do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment.