Depression decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying a single alleged stressor and considering whether the veteran was suffering from PTSD at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of her service-connected depression.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder and denied his claim for an increased disability evaluation for duodenal ulcer.

The Board has determined that the veteran's accounts of mortar attacks and seeing several comrades wounded during service are consistent with his combat status. The case is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, have their onset during service or are causally related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, last diagnosed as major depression.,Service connection was denied for an eye disorder due to the absence of evidence showing it was incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder/PTSD with depression, gastroenteritis and enterocolitis due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was denied for multiple joint pain.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, a schizo-affective disorder, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The veteran's claimed conditions of hemorrhoids, heartburn, and a chronic depressive disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder with depression and panic attacks, but denied an increased rating beyond the initial 50 percent assigned.

The VA has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and assigned a 30 percent disability evaluation, effective September 26, 2001. The veteran's anxiety disorder is currently manifested by episodic depression, anxiety, anger/irritability, and sleep impairment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for major depressive episode and PTSD. The veteran's current psychiatric problems are now considered in deciding these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depression, recurrent.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the veteran's claims, including obtaining VA medical examinations and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as his disabilities are rated at least 60% combined and he has been deemed capable of sedentary work.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression and denied his claim for service connection for depression, as well as secondary service connection for prostate cancer-related conditions.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from December 13, 1994, due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and back strain. The effective date cannot be determined as it is not specified in the decision.