Depression decisions — 2004

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death. The self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head was not related to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left eye aphakia, hypertension, and service connection for right eye cataract, bilateral foot disability, and low back disability were denied. The RO also granted service connection for major depression with a 30 percent evaluation effective September 2, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder with depression was not incurred in or related to his active service.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by her service-connected left knee chondromalacia. The RO must ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 to notify the veteran and assist in substantiating her claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA audiological and psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and depression are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder with depression, is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for the service-connected left knee disability is granted, and the claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is a result of an in-service stressor and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a psychosis and substance abuse secondary to PTSD, but granted an increased rating of 70% for PTSD. The veteran's anxiety and depression were not separately diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues, including a need for VA examinations and development of claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, depression, and peptic ulcer disease. The claims were reopened based on new evidence provided by the veteran.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and any relevant VA or non-VA medical records.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an effective date of February 3, 1998, for the award of service connection for bipolar disorder with anxiety and depression.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected skin condition, effective from the date of the decision.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified with depression, which was currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD due to incomplete medical records, lack of verification of stressor events, and need for additional VCAA notice.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records from the veteran's treating physicians.

The veteran is seeking an effective date prior to January 14, 2000 for a 100% disability rating for PTSD with depression. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and Social Security Administration records.

The veteran is seeking service connection for depression that he believes is related to his service-connected head injury. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining records from the U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Kue, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's hypothyroidism was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of his radiation therapy for larynx cancer in 1993, but denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 as it did not meet the criteria for negligence or carelessness on part of VA.