Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and depression allegedly related to a miscarriage during INACDUTRA. The Board has ordered additional development including verifying the dates of her military service, obtaining medical records, and contacting the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue during a hearing before the Board in October 2016. Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for alcohol abuse prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service stressor is not conceded and therefore, his claims for PTSD and depression are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for depression, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral elbow and shoulder disability have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD from January 8, 2004 to April 27, 2014 is denied. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at January 8, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has expanded the claim to include service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, encompassing all psychiatric disabilities reflected in the record. The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding treatment records from the Springfield Vet Center and a need for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, as they are linked to his military service. The back disability is also service-connected due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his mental health history.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were granted service connection.,Given the grant of service connection for his mental health conditions, the issue of eligibility for treatment is moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD, are related to his combat service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disease, skin disorder, heart condition secondary to PTSD, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear frostbite is also denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and low back disability were not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as his symptoms are related to combat stressors experienced during his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be due to his service-connected disabilities, thus granting service connection for the condition and dismissing the issue of entitlement to medical care under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of his claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, as well as secondary service connection to the right knee disability. The claim was denied due to lack of current diagnosis and no established link between service or service-connected conditions.