Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the occurrence of an in-service stressor event that resulted in PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a total disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, was found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to August 23, 2007.

The Board has determined that the appellant's ACDUTRA service does not meet the criteria for attaining Veteran status, and therefore cannot establish service connection for any of the claimed disabilities. The Board also found no competent or credible evidence linking any of these conditions to the appellant's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of his osteoarthritis of the left foot and psychiatric disorders, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of hypertensive nephrosclerosis was denied. The psychiatric disorder claim on a de novo basis and the TDIU claim were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychotic disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain missing mental health treatment records from the Shreveport VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and narrowing the time period of alleged stressor events.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depressive disorder and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The VA has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA healthcare systems.

The Veteran's major depression has been rated at 50 percent since May 21, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbosacral strain, major depressive disorder, and bilateral pes planus) combine to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since August 29, 2008. The rating is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since December 26, 2012. The rating is based on the current level of impairment due to his mental health condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, depression, and psychosis NOS, is not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the pre-existing psychiatric disorders did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's cause of death (suicide) is attributed to a diagnosed mood disorder that was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and other conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD or other psychiatric disorders that were incurred in service. The clinical evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no indication of such a condition during her military service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for review of additional evidence provided by a VA psychologist, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is now pending with the RO.