Depression decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's psychiatric disorder is secondary to his service-connected left leg disability. The VA psychiatrist needs to provide an opinion on this issue, and any relevant treatment records from the Peachford Behavioral Health Center should be obtained.

The Board finds that the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not linked to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus does not grant service connection for any mental disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have a chronic psychiatric disorder during service or within the one-year presumptive period for psychosis. A current psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right shoulder disability and service connection for skin condition, joints pain, memory loss, hearing loss, impotency, hypertension, right inguinal lymphoma, back condition, major depressive disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and Peyronie's disease. The evidence does not support the veteran's claims as these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, during service or within one year after separation. The veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of a depressive disorder should be June 28, 1993.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA records and a hearing loss examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, stomach problems (dysentery and diarrhea) as secondary to exposure to DDT, and depression are pending.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain medical records from the San Patricio VA Hospital, which is now part of the VAMC in San Juan. The claim for service connection will be remanded and reviewed with these new records.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left elbow internal derangement and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The veteran's left elbow internal derangement was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as it existed prior to service. The right elbow disability, depression and anxiety, and hearing loss were also not found to be related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and anorexia nervosa, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA disability rating criteria.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression and found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in a June 1997 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The veteran's current depression is manifested by inability to work, near-continuous depression, hostility, irritability, anger, some memory impairment, and the need for ongoing therapy sessions.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded. The RO must arrange for a comprehensive examination and obtain treatment records from the veteran's health care providers. If another physical examination is required, the RO must notify the veteran of his responsibility to report for the examination.

The Board found that the veteran's current autoimmune diseases are not causally related to his service-connected rheumatic fever and streptococcal infection, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, has been reopened. His claim for an increased rating for residuals of a compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebra is granted. The claim for a total rating by reason of individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities remains denied. His claim for an increased initial rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine is also granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The knee disorder claim is remanded due to lack of relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pending issues and potential interrelated conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depression and major depressive disorder, as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and delusional disorder, denied service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and a personality disorder, and denied an increased rating for acne vulgaris. The case is remanded to the RO for further development of the record.