Depression decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder not otherwise specified, is service connected. However, there is no evidence of erectile dysfunction and thus this claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's pre-existing mental disorders were not aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, ulcer disorder, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.,The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. However, the evidence does not support granting this reopened claim on the merits. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not related to active service. There is no competent evidence showing that the Veteran currently experiences a skin cancer due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling prior to June 4, 2009. The RO denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disorder are granted service connection as they are presumed to have been incurred due to his military service, specifically his deployment in Afghanistan. The right elbow, bilateral hands, and bilateral feet disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's major depression with psychotic features did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant an evaluation in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim is now pending for further adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of depression and anxiety are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, major depression, and hypertension. The evidence now shows that these conditions are related to his military service, with IDS originating from a back injury during active duty training and major depression being secondary to the spine trauma. Hypertension is also found to be aggravated by the service-connected IDS.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to have been incurred in service, and his headache disability (migraine) is granted an increased rating from April 6, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence from a private therapist, and will re-adjudicate the claim after receiving this information.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's depressive reaction and PTSD have been manifested by sleep impairment, hypervigilance, depression, memory loss, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, irritability, anger, social isolation, diminished interest in activities, and difficulty establishing and maintaining work and social relationships. The Board finds that the current level of disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a stomach disability, hypertension, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a nexus between these conditions and active duty service or service-connected disabilities.,There is no clear indication of a chronic stomach disability in the record. The VA examiner found no etiology with respect to the Veteran's complaints of abdominal pain.,The claim for service connection has been denied on the basis that there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current stomach disability to active duty service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from August 16, 2002. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran has symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression, anger, irritability, constricted affect, problems concentrating, and intrusive thoughts.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability other than PTSD (major depressive disorder) is found to be related to his service, including his military service in Vietnam. The sinus allergies are not considered to be related to his service or any exposure therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for degenerative lumbar spine with sacroiliac joint dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection is also granted for depressive disorder, found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected degenerative lumbar spine with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.