Depression decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depression with headaches and PTSD prior to September 26, 1992 are being remanded due to the need for further development. The issue is also unclear whether he intends to appeal the effective date assigned for service connection or the effective date for the 100% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, memory loss due to Gulf War service, and numbness of the right side and leg due to Gulf War service. The effective dates are set at November 18, 1993.

The VA is remanding the case to determine if any current mental disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to service. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining medical records and personnel records. The veteran's claims of service connection for major depression and PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied her claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran likely developed an acquired psychiatric disorder in service, and granted service connection for dysthymia.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and dementia not otherwise specified, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The examiner concluded that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining missing service medical records and VA examination reports.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with memory loss, chronic diarrhea, cervical spine disability, and skin rash as they did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or were not linked to his in-service stressors. The diagnoses offered have been depression.

The veteran's claims for service connection for major depression, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, immune deficiency syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, major depression, and prostatitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's depression, hepatitis, or liver disability to service and denied these claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with a major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The veteran's major depression is not service-connected, and her loss of teeth was not caused by VA treatment. The claim for 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 benefits for the loss of teeth is also denied.

The veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to June 5, 2003 and increased to 50 percent on or after that date. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including a lack of verified stressors. The RO is instructed to obtain medical records, service personnel records, and verify the alleged stressors through CURR. A VA examination should be conducted to determine the existence and etiology of the veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The veteran's anxiety disorder/depressive disorder is related to his service-connected L4-S5 bulging disc and weakness of the right lower extremity associated with L4-S5 bulging disc, which was granted. Financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and sensory peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected depression, hiatal hernia, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The effective date is August 4, 2000.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The veteran's major depression is found to be proximately due to his service-connected CTS, S/P transposition of the right ulnar nerve.