Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher initial rating. The current 50% rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder was denied as he is precluded from obtaining such due to a final denial of his previous claim for personality disorder. The effective date assigned in the January 2009 rating decision was September 11, 2003.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2008. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further action including referral of the claim to VA's Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of prostate cancer and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including major depression and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, to his active service. The diagnoses were attributed to substance abuse rather than military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD, among other psychiatric disorders, and the Board finds that his in-service sexual assault likely contributed to his current condition. The Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, and depression, during his claim and appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 70 percent since December 13, 2006. The Board finds that the current rating of 70 percent is appropriate given his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are found to be related to his service, specifically the 1968 riot control in Baltimore. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression). The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, a lumbar spine disability, depression (secondary to PTSD), a benign growth of the lung, migraine headaches, and lung cancer. The evidence did not establish a link between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his PTSD with depression claim. The TDIU issue remains in abeyance pending resolution of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of cervical spine strain and paranoid schizophrenia, but finds no current disability that can be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his combat experiences during service. Service connection was also granted for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure (Gulf War Syndrome).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and updated treatment records. The issue of service connection for cognitive deficits as secondary to depression has also been referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied. The claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy were also denied.