Depression decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a low back disability, a hip disability, and hepatitis C. The evidence does not support these claims.,Service connection was denied because there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to service or to a service connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative navicular fracture of the left foot warrants a 20 percent disability rating. The claim for service connection for depression and headaches as secondary to residuals of closed head trauma with cervical and dorsal strain remains denied.

The veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive medical review of his claim file by a VA psychiatric examiner to determine if his acquired mental disorders are causally related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue of secondary service connection for PTSD and tinnitus will also be reconsidered.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, depression (claimed as secondary to hepatitis C), and Meniere's disease (claimed as vertigo and an ear condition). The veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, are found to be sufficient for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected major depression was granted, and he is now rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent. The claim for service connection for arterial hypertension secondary to his service-connected major depression was also granted.

The Board has determined that the proper effective date for an award of a total rating by reason of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is April 22, 2002.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service onset or link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), skin cancer, prostate cancer, and colon bleeding (diagnosed as colitis) due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of reopening his service connection for depression and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and missing records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not caused by his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU benefits based on these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied as the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's scar, left knee, removal of nodule. The claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and verification of in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression, increased ratings for his left knee disability and psoriasis. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic depression in service or any other basis for service connection.