Depression decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions on the nature and extent of the veteran's service-connected conditions, including his heart problems. The issues include determining which symptoms are related to his service-connected disabilities and how they affect his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected hypertension. The TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran seeks service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both legs with muscle atrophy and depression as secondary to his service-connected cold injuries. He also seeks increased evaluations for these conditions, including extraschedular evaluations. The case is being remanded for further development.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression, assigning a 50 percent disability rating effective from January 4, 2003.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on November 23, 2004 is denied as prior authorization was not obtained and the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency services.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to lack of a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking his current dysthymic disorder or depression to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and medical opinion to determine if the veteran's current major depression is related to service.

The veteran's service-connected facial scars and body dysmorphic disorder with major depression are shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates that of the veteran being rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression is related to his service-connected residuals of poliomyelitis and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression, were not incurred in or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 17, 2001 for a 100 percent evaluation for dysthymic disorder and major depression.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, and depression were denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor. The VA examinations did not find a diagnosis of PTSD based on the DSM-IV criteria.

The veteran's depressive disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas of his life. The Board finds a 70 percent disability evaluation appropriate for the service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, but additional development is needed due to outstanding service records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for depression, seizure disorder, or migraine headaches and denied the veteran's claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression and sexual dysfunction are not service-connected.

The veteran's PTSD claim was denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD. The veteran's depression and shrapnel wound to the left thigh and left side of penis were not found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, leading to denial of these claims.