Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or Major Depression, and his symptoms do not align with those expected in such conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting a medical opinion regarding her unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 1, 2010. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death from congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his active service and was not aggravated by such service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric disorders, primarily diagnosed as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder with psychotic features, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD with depression is related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, recurrent, with psychotic features; psychotic disorder, NOS; and bipolar I disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD (and associated depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) that has been medically attributed to a verified stressor he experienced during his active military service. The Board finds the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the nature of his service-connected right wrist disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a finding of current diagnoses of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and depressive disorder NOS. The Board found that these conditions are etiologically related to in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, claimed as right heart enlargement, was granted. However, her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression secondary to the heart disorder, was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was reopened and granted. The condition is considered to be directly related to the service-connected low back disability.,Obesity has not been found to be service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including dysthymia, did not have onset during service and were not related to his service-connected rhinosinusitis with headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and major depression, rendered him unable to engage in or retain substantially gainful employment during the period from October 23, 2008, to June 2, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are not service-connected as her conditions were either pre-existing or aggravated by a personality disorder. Trichotillomania was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, regardless of diagnosis, is caused or aggravated by events in service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and psychiatric disabilities, including depression and anxiety, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The pre-existing conditions existed prior to service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.