Depression decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depressive disorder, is granted as it is likely related to his time on active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran experienced or witnessed traumatic events in Vietnam, which led to PTSD. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and nightmares is granted due to the occurrence of a stressor during his military service. The Board resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal for his claims regarding lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, foot and leg disorder, sinusitis, left ankle scar, and tendonitis of the left leg and foot. As such, these issues are denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety with psychotic features. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature of his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression preexisted service and was not aggravated therein, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression due to new and material evidence. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of depression that is likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation, service connection for depression and stomach disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records and examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder bursitis, lumbar myositis, and major depressive disorder or other acquired nervous disorder (secondary to service-connected residuals of leishmaniasis).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), or a skin disorder (chronic dermatitis and onychomycosis) due to service. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for the skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed stressors were not verified and that there was no credible supporting evidence of their occurrence.

The Veteran has been granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a psychiatric disorder as the result of VA treatment in December 2003, with carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on VA's part being identified as the proximate cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires further development and review. The case is being remanded to allow for additional evidence to be obtained and a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his mental health treatment records, including from a private psychologist and VA facilities. The case will be reviewed again after the additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as the claimed in-service stressors could not be verified and were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are at least as likely as not related to his service experiences.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric conditions and low back disability, as well as separate ratings for sciatica of the lower extremities, have been granted. Service connection has also been established for hypertension.