Depression decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unemployable as a result of these conditions and that he failed to comply with the Board's remand instructions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that it was not shown to be etiologically related to active service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran's depression began during service or was related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for depression.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and depressive disorders due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection and new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of a psychosis within one year post-service and concluding that the current psychiatric disabilities are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors related to sexual assault.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury, right 3rd and 6th nerve palsy, and scars residual to multiple facial lacerations. The current evaluations were found not to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder is proximately due to his service-connected prostate cancer, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression, hypertension, and myocardial infarctions are not related to his military service. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination to determine if service connection is warranted for PTSD, depression, and alcoholism.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities to her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of loss of use of both lower extremities due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for SMC under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder, and a thoracic spine disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety with depression and hemorrhoids, as well as his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability. The appeals were all denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression is service-connected, but has denied his claim for PTSD.

The VA has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his military service, specifically the stress he experienced during his transfer to Guantanamo Bay and subsequent marital problems.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral knee disability, hiatal hernia, depression, celiac disease, and dental caries, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claim for dental caries is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition.

The Board has awarded service connection for GERD and a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder. The veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms have persisted since active duty, while his psychiatric issues are linked to stressors during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical records from providers who treated him. The claims for non-service connected pension benefits, hepatitis C service connection, chronic fatigue syndrome service connection, depression service connection, and post-traumatic brain syndrome service connection are also being reviewed.