Depression decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's earlier claim for a TDIU in December 1998. The issue before the Board is whether, prior to January 28, 1999, his service-connected disabilities solely and by themselves rendered him incapable of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran engaged in combat and his PTSD is linked to his service, specifically his time on a gun mount where he handled misfired shells. The Board finds that the statutory and regulatory criteria for entitlement to service connection for PTSD have been met.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was granted, with a 100 percent rating for active, recurrent major depression effective May 8, 2000. The hearing loss of the right ear and lumbar paravertebral myositis were also addressed.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a statement regarding his employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. The effective date of this decision is July 24, 1995.,Pension benefits were also granted with an effective date of July 24, 1995.

The Board granted service connection for restless leg syndrome and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The increased evaluation claim for Crohn's disease was denied, but the veteran is entitled to a higher rating based on new evidence submitted after his initial claims were decided.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, finding no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors or a nexus between his current psychiatric conditions and his brief period of active military service.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, diagnosed as Attention Deficit Disorder and depression, has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The initial rating of 10 percent is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The veteran did not engage in combat, and there was no verified stressor related to service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's depressive disorder, finding that it most closely approximates the criteria for this rating based on symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a low back disability, epididymitis, prostatitis, and ulcers. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The RO denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to aortic valve disease with regurgitation. The claim for residuals of a back injury was reopened, and the issue is remanded.,Service connection for depression remains denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder and major depression were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection is granted for a loss of the sense of smell, as secondary to service-connected paresthesia of the left side of the tongue with hypesthesia of the left facial area.,Service connection is denied for major depressive disorder with chronic pain syndrome, as it is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of depression is as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for residuals of brain injury (claimed as brain damage), bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current 30 percent evaluation for calluses of the feet adequately reflects his disability, as it is not due to calluses but rather a static deformity of the foot resulting in pes planus. The preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for malaria, fungus of the toes, lumbosacral spine condition, cervical spine condition, thoracic spine condition, hepatitis C, depression, and headaches. The decision also denied reopening of his previously denied claims.