Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing before the Board. His claims for service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder and hypertension, finding that these conditions are likely to have had their clinical onset during the Veteran's active service. The right knee meniscus tear status-post arthroscopy is also granted an initial 10% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and whether his current acquired psychiatric disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell disease has been reopened and is granted. He is also awarded secondary service connection for multiple conditions as secondary to his sickle cell disease, including right shoulder/arm disorder, hemorrhoids (blood in stool), fungal dermatitis, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, heart condition, eye disorders (glaucoma and blindness in the left eye), muscle and joint pain, erectile dysfunction, and alopecia. His rating for vertigo remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to the appellant, through his authorized representative, requesting withdrawal of the appeals in July 2013.

The Veteran's mental health condition, specifically major depression with cognitive disorder, has rendered him incompetent to handle VA funds due to his significant cognitive and behavioral impairments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression is at least as likely as not related to his active service, including his experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, dissociative disorder, dysthymia, and affective disorder. The Veteran's statements, post-service medical records, and behavior are consistent with those factors as found in 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f).

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and his tinnitus is not etiologically related to service. The claims for shortness of breath and depression were also denied as there was no evidence of in-service asbestos exposure or psychiatric injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities or blindness.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches and secondary service connection for depression as related to the Veteran's chronic headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 10, 2008 and the Board finds that his symptoms have continued to meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For the period prior to October 10, 2008, the Veteran's PTSD was rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are related to service. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression is denied. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis and the issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss are not addressed as they were not part of the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to develop evidence regarding his claimed stressors and to consider the revised regulations concerning service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not causally or etiologically related to her military service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.