Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination. The issues are whether service connection should be granted for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, with consideration of it being secondary to his right knee and right ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety are one in the same, constituting an earlier claim for PTSD based on his earlier claim for anxiety. As such, DJL is eligible for attorney fees based on the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for PTSD and depression. The Veteran's claims are supported by medical evidence, including statements from health care providers who have treated him over several years.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye blindness and PTSD, finding no evidence of a chronic right eye disorder or PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and medical records from February 2005 to the present. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed due to the possibility of worsening in her service-connected cervical spine injury.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment prior to January 24, 2006. From January 24, 2006, there is no evidence of gross impairment in thought processes or persistent delusions/hallucinations.

The Veteran's major depression has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD and depression, with the stressors involving plane crash victims at Altus AFB in 1964 and witnessing his father shoot and kill his mother during service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to these service-connected stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and issues with development of evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is being considered on a direct basis. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim, but further development is needed to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy, depression secondary to epilepsy, and irritable bowel syndrome secondary to epilepsy are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability, GSW residuals of the left thigh, adjustment disorder, abdominal scar, and surgical scars on the back are all rated as they currently stand without additional compensation.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Depressive Disorder) that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain missing VA outpatient treatment records for the Veteran's major depression and to schedule her for an appropriate VA examination. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including consideration of whether TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and service. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about specific dates of events, such as being detained by police in Panama or witnessing a civilian death in Somalia.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified are related to his service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service and denied his claim for service connection.