Depression decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the request to reopen the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and dysthymia, were not incurred during service or due to any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an initial increased rating for his major depressive disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his active military duty.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD were denied. The claim for cold injury residuals was reopened, but the evidence does not support service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise in showing a nexus between a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety disorder) and active duty for training. Therefore, service connection for the veteran's anxiety disorder and depression is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid personality disorder with schizoid traits, depression, and chronic pain syndrome was denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not have their onset during service and are not related to any incident of service. The Board found no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's major depressive disorder was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and denied his claim.

The veteran is seeking to establish service connection for his current psychiatric disorders, including paranoid schizophrenia and depression. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further development of evidence.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for various service-connected conditions were granted, with the exception of his claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as his conditions do not include loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision, nor does he have ankylosis of the knees or hips.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, low back disability, and depression are not service-connected or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's dysthymia with major depressive disorder warrants a 30 percent initial rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an immature personality disorder, panic disorder with adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chloracne of the hands and face, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure are all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year of service. The veteran's claims for left knee disorder and bone spurs of the heels were withdrawn prior to a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, left medial meniscus tear, and left shoulder instability. The RO continued the assigned evaluations for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for dental trauma and increased the evaluation of major depression with PTSD to 70 percent, effective November 24, 2003.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and depression due to potential verification of in-service stressors. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining additional evidence.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and a 100 percent schedular rating for anxiety reaction with depression and PTSD with psychosis. The Board denied this claim, finding that the February 1997 rating action became final due to lack of appeal on the effective date issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression. The decision found that there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors and that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of combat experience. Service connection for depression was also denied because there was no objective evidence of continuing disability or persistent symptoms since service.