Depression decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, and cognitive disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The headache disorder was also not related to service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service appendectomy. Service connection was not granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression or PTSD.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected migraine headaches, depressive disorder, PTSD associated with prostate cancer residuals, bilateral hearing loss, left foot injury, and impotence are found to be disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 70 percent rating assigned for his major depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for headaches is reopened and the Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has decided the Veteran's claim on appeal and has determined that additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, manifested by anxiety and depression, was found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected mesenteric panniculitis. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all pending claims before the Board, including service connection for hypertension and psychiatric disorders, as well as various arthritis and skin conditions ratings. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also withdrawn.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury or psychiatric problems in service, and there is insufficient credible medical evidence to establish any link between current disabilities and service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran may have experienced a personal assault in service that resulted in pregnancy, which could be related to her current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide a new VA examination in order to assess the current severity of her service-connected PTSD with depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Columbia RO for scheduling a video conference hearing before a member of the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also to be provided a new VA examination to address his claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is not manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since August 27, 2004. The current disability rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder did not manifest during service and is not attributable to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood. The hypertension claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 11, 2010 were reimbursed as the emergency treatment was necessary due to a serious threat to his health and delay in seeking immediate care would have been hazardous.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim regarding whether his stab wounds were incurred in the line of duty or due to willful misconduct. The evidence shows that he was injured during a confrontation with another Marine, and while it is not clear if this was an act of willful misconduct, the Board finds that the injuries occurred in the line of duty. Service connection for PTSD and depression has also been granted as the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to his service experience.