Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be related to service, and his erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to a service-connected condition. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, continuous body aches and joint pains, gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headaches, skin rash, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after any necessary actions are taken.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder, are related to his service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 4, 1998 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as a matter of law.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for depression, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as any relevant SSI disability benefits records. The Veteran will also be afforded a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders of depression and anxiety are not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, the earliest evidence of psychiatric problems was 16 years after discharge from military service, and the VA examiners did not find a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized as a panic disorder with depression secondary to loss of taste and vision impairment, has been rated at the highest available rating (70%) since December 19, 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is not related to her service and therefore denied her claim.

The Board has granted service connection for polycythemia vera and major depression and generalized anxiety disorder as secondary to the Veteran's polycythemia vera. The evidence is at least evenly balanced on whether polycythemia vera was incurred in service, but there are conflicting opinions regarding its relationship to chemical exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a bilateral knee disorder, but did not address the other issues as they are related to different conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for depression as secondary to coronary artery disease, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Other conditions such as hypothyroidism, histoplasmosis, manifestations of valley fever, and hypercholesterolemia have been reopened but the decision on their merits is not specified.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claim of in-service sexual assault and PTSD, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA psychiatric examination and an opinion regarding the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disabilities diagnosed during the pendency of the claim, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including consideration of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder as part of the claim. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims of emphysema and depression with attempted suicide, as well as Type II diabetes mellitus, a heart disorder, and a cardiovascular disorder claimed as resulting from Agent Orange exposure.