Depression decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, as well as a dysthymic disorder (depression). The veteran's current ratings will be addressed in the REMAND section.

The veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, depression, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux from the upper gastrointestinal, multiple joint pain, and headaches have all been denied. The claim for PTSD was not addressed as it is unclear whether the veteran has this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, began during his active duty. The condition was incurred in service based on direct evidence rather than through a presumption or secondary service connection.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his postoperative right inguinal hernia was granted. The effective date of the total unemployability rating based on service-connected disabilities was set at February 11, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of $3,060 in medical expenses due to the VA Medical Center (VAMC) finding that VA facilities were feasibly available and that the veteran received non-VA outpatient physical therapy outside the scope of her VA Fee Basis Program.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to evaluate the severity of her major depression and residuals of a mammoplasty.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to reopening a claim for PTSD and determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression. The veteran needs further examination and development of his claims folder.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and fatigue, memory loss, numbness and stiff, sore joints with muscle aches due to undiagnosed illness. The initial ratings have been assigned at the 10 percent level.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claims for an increased rating for a generalized anxiety disorder with depression and a TDIU. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder, anxiety, major depression, headaches, or allergic rhinitis during service. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his active military service.

The veteran's current depression is in part due to his service-connected right leg and knee disorder, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and granted it, finding that his depression is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran was found to have distal symmetric peripheral polyneuropathy, previously claimed as muscle pain, joint pain, and stiff joints, which is etiologically related to his Gulf War service.,The veteran was diagnosed with chronic anxiety and depression, which are due to his period of active duty service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for anxiety neurosis, effective from the date of the initial reduction. The claim for entitlement to total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability is moot as the veteran's disability rating was restored.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen and established service connection for a psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression and anxiety neurosis. However, further development is needed due to insufficient evidence regarding the extent of functional impairment caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to issues raised by a Federal Circuit decision invalidating certain regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder is related to his stressful experiences in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran incurred PTSD during his service in Vietnam, and thus granted entitlement to service connection for PTSD.