Depression decisions — 2006

The Board is remanding the case to allow for additional development and consideration of whether the apportionment of VA compensation benefits granted on behalf of the veteran's children, in the custody of the Franklin County Department of Social Services (DSS), was proper.

The veteran's left arm surgery resulted in worsening of left arm neuropathic pain and weakness, which the Board finds to be an unforeseeable adverse outcome. The claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for hepatitis C, fatigue, headache disorder, skin rash, and mental disability (anxiety, stress, depression and a mood disorder). The case is being remanded to conduct further medical examinations and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or depressive disorder linked to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected schizophrenia, finding that the condition primarily manifested by persistent and severe anxiety and depression, resulting in severe social and industrial impairment.

The Board found that chronic depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability or disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's in-service psychiatric issues and his current conditions, as well as the potential aggravation of alcohol dependence.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his dysthymic disorder with major depression was granted, but the RO has not yet determined whether he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed PTSD. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and verify any in-service stressors that may lead to a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her metatarsalgia and major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of verified stressors leading to these diagnoses.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection for headaches, fatigue, multiple joint pain, hypersomnia, depressive disorder, and decreased libido due to undiagnosed illness were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for headaches or service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the veteran's in-service personal assault and obtaining her service medical records. The veteran is also to be provided a VA examination to determine if her current PTSD diagnosis is related to an in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizotypal personality disorder, finding that while he had a pre-existing personality disorder, his current mental health conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's HIV infection and TDIU claim are both granted effective April 4, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD warrants a 100 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his claim. The veteran is also granted an earlier effective date for TDIU to November 26, 1998.

The veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for multiple joint pain and the residuals of neck strain with a pinched nerve was previously denied, but new evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's case was properly placed in interrupted status and subsequently discontinued, and denied her claim for additional vocational rehabilitation training.