Depression decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision concluded that major depression may not be presumed to have been incurred in service and a diagnosis of PTSD related to service is not supported by medically sufficient stressors.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board found no probative evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorder to service, but granted service connection for substance abuse. The claim for a chronic psychiatric disease was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, neck pain, chronic headaches, depression and double vision due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current condition and active duty service. The Board found that the veteran did not have any cervical spine disability during or after service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that the claimed conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits based on the RO's grant of a TDIU due to lack of final decision and unreasonably raised claim.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, fainting spells, night sweats, gastrointestinal complaints, and joint pain were denied as they are not related to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip and lumbar spine conditions are not service-connected, and his depression is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current anxiety disorder and depression are related to his military service, including living in a gang neighborhood after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that these symptoms began many years after service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of major depressive disorder and also denied his increased disability rating for PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated and are currently assigned the maximum schedular ratings. No further increased ratings are warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, refractive error (claimed as poor eyesight), asthma, bronchitis, bursitis of the left shoulder, mood disorder due to sarcoidosis and depression, rash, and hypertension are not established by the evidence of record. The conditions were either not caused by service or have no relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not establish a link between her current psychiatric condition and her active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that his current psychiatric disability did not begin during or immediately after military service and was more likely related to a post-service head injury.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bipolar disorder previously diagnosed as major depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of his initial grant of service connection in March 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current major depressive disorder and PTSD are related to her experiences as an operating room specialist during service, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for TDIU. The claims are denied.

The veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.