Depression decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression warrants a 30 percent rating, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for conversion reaction and service connection for depressive disorder are pending.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no current medical evidence of PTSD and that any currently present psychiatric disorder is not shown to be etiologically related to his active service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed service connection for PTSD could not be granted due to a lack of verified stressors, and thus denied the claim. The issue of major depression was also denied as there were no verified stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cataracts, periodontal disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic pancreatitis, nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeals were based on direct service connection or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Reiter's syndrome and depression, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for bilateral foot disorder and back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a ganglion cyst of the left wrist, hypertension, bipolar disorder with depression, PTSD, and joint pain, have been denied. The appeals are pending on remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and clinical opinion regarding service connection for PTSD, as well as incomplete service personnel records. The veteran's claim will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's personality disorder is service-connected, having reopened his claim based on new and material evidence. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression did not begin during her military service and is unrelated to any event or incident in service. As a result, the claim for service connection for major depression was denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder and for obtaining any relevant treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a dysthymic disorder and his claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board found that there was no evidence of an etiological relationship between the veteran's dysthymic disorder and service, nor did it meet the criteria for a special monthly pension due to disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for myopia, left arm twitching, gingivitis and stomatitis (claimed as bleeding gums), a psychiatric disability including PTSD, depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder with mood swings, sleep disturbance, memory loss, night sweats, and concentration problems, sexual dysfunction, and staph and strep infections. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, dysthymia, anxiety and/or PTSD, is found to have been incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during service and there is no evidence of a stressful incident. The VA has not been able to establish a link between his current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for neuropsychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, finding no evidence of such disorders during or within one year after service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a personality disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied as the Board finds that these conditions are not diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable legislation, and therefore may not be service connected.

The veteran's claims for headaches, neck disability, and depression are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were determined not to be related to his military service.