Depression decisions — 2006

The Board has ordered additional development of the veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, and psychosis. The RO is to contact the veteran to provide additional details about her in-service stressors and request records from the JSRRC.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 1, 2001 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and major depression, leading to a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, scheduling a podiatry and psychiatric examination, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an adjustment disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were denied. His claim for a higher initial rating for the bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection due to his outstanding request for a Travel Board hearing at the Philadelphia RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a depressive disorder, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The decision also granted entitlement to a 70 percent evaluation for the service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran currently has PTSD and whether it is related to service.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, but his major depression disorder claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a total right knee replacement, but the veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and his Major Depressive Disorder is not service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, blurred vision, major depressive disorder, hypertension, onychomycosis of the toenails, memory loss, and hair loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the appellant's decreased vision does not meet the VA standards for aid and attendance, as his visual acuity is not 5/200 or less in both eyes. The appellant was also not legally blind based on corrected vision measurements provided by medical records.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depression with psychosis has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, a right knee disorder, and major depression, are not related to his service-connected low back disability. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Polysubstance Abuse. The competent evidence does not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD were denied. The right knee disability was granted with evaluations based on instability and arthritis with painful motion. The hypertension claim was not granted in excess of the current 10% evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the VCAA notice provided.

The RO continued a noncompensable evaluation for chronic bronchitis and denied service connection for recurrent major depression. The veteran is requesting a remand to address his claims, including the reopening of his claim for major depression.

The veteran's PTSD and depression are manifested by symptoms such as daily flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness. The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected chronic tonsillitis, finding no competent medical evidence supporting these claims.