Depression decisions — 2012

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim. His lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted, but no specific effective date was assigned as it is related to reopening his claim on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, breast cancer due to radiation exposure, and osteopenia have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury that resulted in the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a lack of an examination assessing the Veteran's overall disability picture and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability(ies), including whether any Axis I diagnoses other than PTSD are related to service or caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and psychosis not otherwise specified, were not incurred in service. The evidence did not show a chronic condition during or within one year after service, nor was there any credible evidence of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and requesting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depression, manifested in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and remanded her claims for psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and mood disorder. Additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current tinnitus or dementia with major depression and anxiety related to service. The claim for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine if any of the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his active duty service. The case will be remanded for a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective January 4, 2011, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and dementia. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his period of active service, and his depression and dementia are caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request, and will not make a decision on the merits until this is done.

The Board has granted service connection for right-sided testicular pain (claimed as epididymitis) and depressive disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including lumbar sprain and migraine headaches, was denied. The Veteran's lumbar sprain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has not resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating no higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 30, 2006. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a higher initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of qualifying wartime service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is remanded for additional development.