Depression decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder and major depression did not originate in service or are related to any inservice events, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there are two issues on appeal: service connection for cause of death and nonservice-connected death pension. The appellant is seeking to establish service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which she claims was due to his service-connected PTSD. Further development is needed to provide proper notice and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's alcohol and substance abuse.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression, as well as his Parkinson's disease with bladder control problem and peripheral neuropathy are presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his current psychiatric disabilities to his military service. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the validity of the Veteran's claimed stressors and their relationship to his current psychiatric conditions. The case will be remanded for a VA examination and additional evidence.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder (also diagnosed as depression and anxiety) is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran also has COPD, which he contends was caused by asbestos exposure during military service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 28, 2008, for a 50 percent rating for service-connected depression is granted. The effective date is set at October 31, 2006.

The Board found no evidence of a preexisting psychiatric disorder and concluded that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, needs further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and need for verification of certain stressors.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD with depression and service connection for asbestosis have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The derivative TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his major depressive disorder with psychotic features were denied as the withdrawal of the appeal was not timely received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety), bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or secondary to his service-connected low back sprain.

The Veteran's claim for COPD was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that any such condition is not related to service.,Osteoarthritis claims were also denied, with the Board finding that arthritis did not manifest during service or within one year post-service and is not linked to service.,The Veteran's claim for hepatitis-C infection was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and it is not related to service.,Scoliosis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that any such condition is not related to service.,Chronic dry skin with pruritis claims were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that any such condition is not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's claim for joint/muscle pain, memory loss, anxiety, depression, night sweats, mood swings, emotional problems, sleep disturbance, nightmares and neurological symptoms was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that any such condition is not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10 percent for depressive disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea is set at July 11, 2011.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The issue is now on remand for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA mental health examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for alcohol abuse as secondary to service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder is also being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service. The claims for increased ratings for sensory loss affecting the left hand and postoperative left wrist scars are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any increase in severity since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if she currently suffers from an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder) that had its origin during service, including her alleged inservice sexual assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or depressive disorder. The preponderance of evidence shows no in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology related to these conditions and there is no nexus between any diagnosed psychiatric condition and service.