Depression decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of Major Depression is October 10, 1992.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service, including whether it was aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, dysthymic disorder or depression, tinnitus, hypertension, and irregular heartbeat. The SMRs were silent on these conditions during active duty, and there was no evidence linking them to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's major depression was not incurred in or aggravated by her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acne vulgaris and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, as secondary to his service-connected acne vulgaris.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and possibly scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Depression, finding that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors were not corroborated. The skin disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA medical records. The veteran's claim for service connection for depression, anxiety, and insomnia will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected bilateral pes valgus and pes planus with fibrositis of the calves was denied. She is currently in receipt of the maximum schedular disability evaluation.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease resulting from a VA procedure and service connection for an anxiety disorder/major depression secondary to his heart condition. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations, is necessary before these claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The predominant diagnosis was major depressive disorder, which is not considered to be related to service.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, shortness of breath, a spinal disorder, and spots on the liver. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to nerve gas.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the dental trauma claim is not reopened. The heart disorder claim due to Agent Orange exposure has also been denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected PMS with major depressive disorder warrants a 30 percent rating effective November 2002, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected depression and seronegative spondyloarthropathy, both currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his initial service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, or bilateral hearing loss due to service. The claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 as he did not sustain an injury to a lung during VA surgery and hospitalization in February 2001, nor did he develop additional psychiatric disability.