Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and associated conditions, but her original claim was denied in November 1994. The appeal is currently remanded to consider whether the 1994 denial is final and if additional evidence supports a non-finality determination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions which are related to his military service. For the bilateral feet condition, a new VA examination is needed as the previous one did not address the Veteran's assertions regarding the origin of his bone spurs during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and there is no evidence linking his claimed conditions to active military service. The Veteran's PTSD may be related to in-service assault, but further examination is needed to determine if it is related to combat support operations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including requesting an addendum opinion from the VA psychiatrist and clarifying the VA orthopaedic examination report. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected toe injuries are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his depression and mood disorder, and readjudication of his claim for an increased rating for Tourette's syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive and panic disorders is rated at 50 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his disability. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), onychomycosis, and hypertension. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure or other diseases associated with such exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and OPM, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, and addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability may aggravate his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran did not present a credible or verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 1, 2012 have been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and his PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds a remand necessary to obtain VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with a new VA psychiatric examination for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder, bilateral feet disorder, stomach disorder, depression and anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, were denied as the evidence does not support a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms align with the DSM-IV criteria and his in-service stressors are credible. The claim was reopened due to new evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and are not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding his psychiatric disability and procedural issues with the low back claim. Additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records for his psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development, including obtaining a VA mental health disorders examination and an eye examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability. The claims are being returned to the RO/AMC for these additional evaluations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his service in Vietnam and experienced stressors related to this engagement.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a higher rating of his service-connected hypothyroidism with tachycardia and obesity, as the decision was final due to lack of disagreement with the initial assignment of the disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability in service or due to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.