Depression decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. However, the relationship between his other diagnosed psychiatric disorders and his military service or service-connected PTSD remains unclear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS and depression are related to his military service. However, there is no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been granted a 50 percent disability evaluation, effective June 27, 2008. The evidence shows significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and tinnitus, as well as her increased rating claims for depressive disorder and sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted service connection for this condition. The rating for the lumbar spine disability was increased to 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The claims for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to assess his psychiatric conditions and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran requested a withdrawal of the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and for depression during his September 2012 videoconference Board hearing. As a result, those claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 30% since November 20, 2009. The Board finds that an even higher 50% rating is warranted as of November 20, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 28, 2008 and increased to 100 percent effective June 1, 2010.,PTSD is currently rated based on its total occupational and social impairment.

For the period from April 9, 2008, to July 21, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,Throughout the appeal period, the evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptomatology that more closely approximates total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA aid and attendance examination to determine if she needs regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, kyphosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and migraines. The RO/AMC will then readjudicate the SMC claim in light of these findings.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors were sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection for his psychiatric disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the service-connected right wrist disability has aggravated any psychiatric symptoms, including depression and auditory hallucinations.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability meeting the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and concluded that there is insufficient medical evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension was also not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to an in-service stressor. The psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, hypertension, and TDIU claims are pending.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with splenectomy, adjustment disorder with depression, and disfiguring and painful abdominal scars) result from a common etiology and have combined ratings for compensation purposes of 60 percent. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.