Depression decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and intermittent explosive disorder, finding that the current psychiatric disability was not causally related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not been shown to prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50% since August 13, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a finding of total disability due to service-connected depression.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 7, 2009 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital are not eligible for reimbursement under VA regulations because the emergency treatment was not rendered in response to a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating based on total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a left shoulder disorder, bilateral knee or hip disorders, head injury, or scar on head incurred during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, are found to be secondary to her service-connected migraine headaches and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion on whether the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and anxiety disorder were caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, along with PTSD and major depressive disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the anxiety disorder prior to March 21, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 27, 2012. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. A VA psychiatric examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acid reflux, back disability, fibromyalgia, sinus condition, hearing loss, blurring in both eyes, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, depression, anxiety), cartilage loss in both knees, gout in ankles and feet, and chronic left ankle fracture. The Board found that the evidence did not support a service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's current psychiatric disorder(s) and its/their relationship to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his left knee disability claim. The psychiatric disorder and acid reflux claims were also denied.