Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to verify his combat participation and stressor events. The case will be returned to the VA examiner for an addendum and potential additional examinations.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are presumed to have pre-existed service and were aggravated by military service. Service connection is granted for PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and dissociative identity disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective January 28, 2013. His diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder were reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted a 50 percent rating, the maximum available under current criteria. The effective date is pending as the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine remains pending.

The Veteran is eligible for the full 100% level of educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill due to his discharge from service due to a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and major depressive disorder due to an in-service personal assault.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for hepatitis C and a right shoulder disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive and psychotic conditions, are best characterized as having developed in service due to head trauma. The benefit of doubt is afforded to the Veteran, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing notice of the examination at his current address. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected gastritis and assigned a 30 percent disability rating for gastritis. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastritis was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion addressing the relationship between his current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with sleep disturbance, depression, and dementia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his VA treatment records. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, and headaches due to head trauma. The merits of these claims will be addressed in a future remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied in the July 2009 rating decision, and no timely substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a nervous condition and granted it. The case is now remanded for further development regarding the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted higher initial ratings for hepatitis B and depressive disorder, with a 50 percent rating assigned for depressive disorder effective from November 13, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their direct impact rather than any presumption or secondary condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with short-term memory loss, anxiety, depression, and disequilibrium is being remanded due to the need for an examination regarding his INACDUTRA period from June 21, 2006 to June 25, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in significant social and occupational impairment, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The in-service stressors were verified but no current Axis I psychiatric disability was noted during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and her service-connected psychiatric disorders are not related to military service. The hearing loss claim is also denied.