Depression Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the DSM-V criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD due to military service and a diagnosis of PTSD based on an inservice stressor is not shown.,A current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, dysthymic disorder, and personality disorder, not otherwise specified, was not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) must obtain missing service treatment records and provide the veteran with proper notification regarding his opportunity to submit alternative sources of such records. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice regarding new and material evidence claims, as well as other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including an ear condition and bilateral hearing loss, have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence of record is credible to corroborate the veteran's account of his in-service stressor incident, and raises at least a reasonable doubt that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred. Coupled with the medical evidence and resolving all such doubts in the veteran's favor, as required by law, the grant of service connection for chronic depression and PTSD is warranted.

The Board finds that the veteran's skin rash with cysts did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to his active duty. The claim for service connection for a bowel disorder (including irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease) has been referred back to the RO due to lack of available VA treatment records from 1992-1993.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue disorder, and depression and memory loss due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the veteran's period of active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a psychosis within one year after discharge from service and no medical evidence linking his current diagnoses to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, other than PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated during service and are not otherwise related to his military service. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder with depression and anxiety is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional information about the veteran's claimed stressors and providing a VA examination to assess whether his current mental health conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic headache disorder and irritable bowel syndrome, which represent complete grants of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim for depression is considered a new claim as it had not previously been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, hypertension (presumed to be related to diabetes mellitus), and depression. The veteran's claims were not granted.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in mild to moderate social impairment, warranting a 30 percent evaluation from August 9, 2007. Prior to that date, the veteran was granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD and depression need further development due to incomplete information regarding in-service stressors, and a need for additional medical opinions.