Depression decisions — 2006

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of depression and anxiety to his period of service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for major depression, which was denied in September 1997.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and denied benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for injury to both eyes/vision losses, finding no evidence of fault on the part of VA in providing care or treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VCAA notice. The RO is instructed to obtain any existing medical records of treatment from the Hartford Research Group, provide proper VCAA notice, and arrange for an addendum to the September 2005 VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's depression did not have its onset during service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a bipolar disorder with depression, finding that there is sufficient objective evidence linking the current diagnosis of bipolar disorder to the diagnosis of depression in service.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any psychiatric disability other than depression, including schizoaffective disorder. The claim was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional psychiatric evaluation to differentiate between impairment caused by PTSD and non-service connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, depression (secondary to a service-connected disability), and increased evaluations for eczema, left elbow injury, and left thumb injury. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to October 12, 2004. As of October 12, 2004, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for depression with anxiety is denied due to his failure to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted since the last denial in December 1998 is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, and the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service, including any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for impetigo and the RO continued to deny a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. The veteran's claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was incurred during service or related to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for defective vision, MI residuals, left ear hearing loss, arthritis, CVA residuals, ED, and depression. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions that are linked to military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current chronic psychiatric disability, including PTSD or depression, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.