Depression decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to assess his service-connected depression.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied as there is no evidence of combat involvement or verified in-service stressors, making it impossible to establish a causal link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a mental disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the nature and etiology of her diagnosed mental disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression, eating disorder, and pyelonephritis are service-connected. The chronic sinusitis claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during service or since.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that he did not meet the criteria as his service-connected disabilities were never rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years prior to death.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 12, 2004 for service connection of depression has been granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of his claim on January 12, 2004.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as mental stress, to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic depressive disorder, finding that it began during active military service and is not secondary to another condition. Service connection for intracranial arteriovenous malformation was denied as the veteran's condition is a congenital defect.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person (A&A) or at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, effective from December 30, 2002. The veteran's disability picture is characterized by serious occupational impairment.

The veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the left hand and for a TDIU are being remanded to consider whether referral for extra-schedular consideration is warranted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his major depression, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for depression, a back disorder, and bilateral hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected left leg condition. The RO must arrange for the veteran to undergo VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating from October 7, 2002 to March 20, 2005 and a 70 percent disability rating is granted for the period from March 21, 2005 to present.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to verify her claimed in-service stressors or diagnoses. The appeal regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not addressed as it does not involve a determination on service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in substantial gainful employment before January 2, 2003. Therefore, an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, upper back, cardiovascular, and psychiatric disabilities. The decision also noted that the veteran did not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for less than the required duration. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee amputation and depression, finding that the veteran's claims are not supported by competent medical evidence. The Board also found that any claimed depression is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.