Depression decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, is related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including depression. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and panic disorder manifesting with alcohol abuse, was granted. The Board found that the current psychiatric disabilities are causally related to symptoms first experienced in active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities with bilateral Charcot deformities and degenerative joint disease of the ankles and feet result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, allowing him to be granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The right eye disability was rated at 30 percent from October 20, 2006 to November 5, 2006 and remains rated at 30 percent since January 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims file. The VA will attempt to obtain his complete service personnel records, in-service psychiatric treatment records, and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 23, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely related to his service in the Dominican Republic, and thus grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, alcohol dependence and cocaine dependence, was not incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the deceased service member's discharge in August 1989 was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including drug abuse. The Board found no evidence to upgrade this discharge or establish insanity as a defense. Therefore, the character of the deceased service member's discharge is considered a bar to the appellant's basic eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the evidence supports a direct link to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for major depression and PTSD, but further development is needed to determine if her current diagnoses are related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including Gulf War Syndrome, depression, neuropathy, radiculopathy, and various other symptoms. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions, with some seeking reopening of a previously denied claim for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's memory loss is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and anxiety remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is related to events during his active military service and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of an extraschedular rating for his cervical spine disorder and issuance of a SOC on the issue of increased disability rating for depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, joint disorder, and headache disability due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.