Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the veteran with a new examination to assess his low back disorder. The claims for increased rating and service connection are also being remanded.

The veteran's depression is found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to a higher initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome with stomach pain and service connection for a low back disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, effective from September 27, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that depression was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or the result of the service-connected low back strain.

The veteran claims service connection for a psychiatric disorder, likely post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), related to an assault in service. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, and ADD. The decision is mixed as some of the evidence relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder, to include depression, insomnia and PTSD as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for depression. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining deck logs from the U.S.S. Arkansas and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting moderate impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board found that the veteran's spine disorder, right knee disorder, and depression were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression, finding that the veteran first had symptoms of his current psychiatric disorder in service and linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete information and need for additional evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, including OCD with depression and memory loss, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive system disorder, including GERD and PUD, has been reopened. However, the evidence does not establish that his current psychiatric disorder is related to service.,Service connection cannot be established for diabetes mellitus as there was no in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The low back condition and bilateral knee condition have also not been shown to be related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection of seizures, high blood pressure (hypertension), and depression have been denied. The RO has assigned a 20 percent evaluation for the right thumb disorder since May 1983 under Diagnostic Code 5224.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current chronic psychiatric disorder and did not find any link between his service and such condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, was incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma remains service-connected but with no compensable rating assigned.