Depression decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back pain syndrome. The veteran was also awarded a compensable disability rating of 20 percent for her right knee disorder, effective April 21, 1995.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and clarification of his claims, including obtaining medical records and clarifying his desire for a hearing.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be decided. The veteran's low back disability and PTSD claim require additional medical examinations to determine the extent of his disabilities, as well as a review of the evidence to establish whether he meets the criteria for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an anxiety disorder as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disability and a TDIU rating. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining corroborating evidence of noncombat-related stressors and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was due to aplastic anemia, which is service-connected. The appellant is also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1994.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural defects in VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to evaluate his right eye disability and headaches. The issues of service connection for depression, a right eye disability, aphakia with impaired vision and chorioretinal changes of the left eye, and ptosis of the left upper eyelid are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and assigned a 50 percent evaluation effective from November 20, 2000. The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied, as the criteria for such were not met. The effective date for the award of a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD has been set at November 20, 2000.

The veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent from November 7, 1996 to April 1, 2002. From April 2, 2002, the rating for major depressive disorder increased to 100 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his major depression, finding that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left forehead and major depression and PTSD. The remaining claims are referred to the RO for further development.

The Board has found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are the result of events experienced in active service.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected PTSD and concluded that the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his major depressive disorder is being remanded to allow for additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and SSA medical records.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board and RO have denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, heart condition, weakness of the left lower extremity with paresis, sensory deficit on the left side of his body, tinnitus, depressive disorder, headaches, and memory loss. The evidence submitted since previous decisions does not support reopening these claims.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and opinions regarding whether VA's care during the April 28, 2002 hospitalization resulted in appellant's injuries.

The veteran is seeking service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination, is needed to make a determination on his claim.