Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have residuals of a left arm fracture or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to any incident of his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence reflects that he does not have these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, to include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), related to service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia secondary to PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Alcohol Dependence, is currently rated at 30 percent. The appeal for a TDIU was denied as the service connection theory is unknown.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence. The current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, depression NOS, panic disorder, and anxiety NOS are considered insufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no effective dates or ratings were granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, due to lack of a diagnosis in accordance with DSM-IV.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the credibility of the alleged stressor event and to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus or hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected, effective March 16, 2010.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is inadequate for evaluation purposes and thus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD cannot be granted as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression but denied all other claims due to lack of evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a mental health examination to clarify his current psychiatric condition and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse and a mental condition, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depression and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected right orchiectomy. His hearing loss, COPD, left wrist fracture residuals, scar from cyst removal, allergic rhinitis, and rhinoplasty/septoplasty are all rated at the lowest possible level (0%) due to their current severity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to ambiguity regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, as well as the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right ulnar nerve damage.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right wrist disorder. The appeals on cervical spine, left shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to her service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least 2003.