Depression decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding no evidence of a link between the conditions and the veteran's service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and depression, finding that the veteran's disabilities render him unemployable. The rating for cluster headaches remains at 50%.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore a 40 percent disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain and upheld the current rating of 50 percent for major depression.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for major affective disorder/depression. However, before a final determination can be made on this reopened claim, it must be remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and consideration.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and open angle glaucoma are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board finds that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's malignant melanoma of the back or his psychiatric disorder, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is attributable to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and personality disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder and undiagnosed illness claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression was manifested during his period of active service and granted service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar disc disease was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing and further development.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder linked to service and denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and depression, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which the Board has determined requires additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression. However, it was determined that there is no competent evidence to indicate that his current psychiatric condition was caused by an injury or disease sustained during service.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety with depression is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his severe disability from this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected major depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and procedural deficiencies, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations for depression and gouty arthritis. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, described as generalized anxiety disorder with depression.