Depression decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, and a skin disability are denied. The claim for service connection for a left chest cyst is also denied. Service connection is granted for hypertension and a skin disability.

The Board has ordered the case back for further examination and readjudication due to procedural issues, including the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, and dysthymia. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current depressive disorder related to his active service, including witnessing traumatic events during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was found to have been incurred in service. His increased ratings for his thoracic spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities were granted.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of current or service-connected hepatitis C. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was also denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that his condition had worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective August 1, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disability manifested by impaired immune system, trachea/heart positional shift, cervical spine disability, depression, OSA, and bronchitis was denied. The Board found no evidence of an impairment in the immune system or any other claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with depression and generalized anxiety disorder, was aggravated during service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's depression is rated at a 50 percent evaluation, and the TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has denied each claim on the merits. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of residuals of electrical shock or second degree burns of either lower extremity. Pes planus pre-existed service and did not increase in severity during service. Shin splints are not shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective February 3, 2009, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting a VA examination. The issue of service connection for alcohol abuse is also pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to July 12, 2006 was manifested by anxiety, irritability, chronic sleep impairment with frequent nightmares and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The Court found no evidence to support a stressor related to his service in Vietnam.