Depression decisions — 2006

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current depressive disorder is causally related to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and review of records.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD with depression. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records and relevant data from various sources.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected major depressive disorder was granted, with a 50% disability rating effective March 8, 2000. Service connection claims for digestive system disorders, cervical spine and shoulder disorders, thoracic spine disorder, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction were denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to make a final decision on the increased rating for PTSD and TDIU claims, and therefore, remands are required for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service medical records and the need for proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, residuals of a right wrist ganglion, and gastrointestinal disability were denied. The claim for an increased rating from 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome was granted with a current effective date.

The Board found that the veteran did not have current diagnoses of right and left shoulder conditions, right and left leg and foot conditions, depression or PTSD. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's hearing loss occurred following his military service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the veteran's degenerative joint disease to his active duty service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine the specific disabilities and their severance pay contributions, as well as to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further psychiatric evaluation regarding the cause of death.

The veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, including depression, peptic ulcer disease with gastritis, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a low back disorder, dermatitis, seizure disorder, and hypertension. The veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran's depression existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse, a partial colon removal, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, which is related to a verified personal assault in service. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as there is no evidence of such conditions being linked to his military service. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of a lower one-third esophagus Mallory-Weiss tear was granted with the current 60% disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right inguinal hernia, mental disability (major depressive disorder), and right knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder, finding that the earliest date entitlement to this benefit arose was August 14, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 21, 2001 for the grant of service connection for a depressive disorder. The decision stated that there was no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date due to lack of an informal claim prior to November 21, 2001.