Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, effective December 22, 2002. The RO has not granted a higher rating for this condition.,For her low back disability, the veteran was initially awarded a 10 percent rating in June 2004 and later revised to 30 percent in June 2005, both effective December 22, 2002. The RO has not granted a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression and neuropathy of both legs are not service-connected, as there is no evidence showing a direct connection to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, postoperative residuals of coronary artery disease, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), as well as his claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss. The April 1975 denial of service connection for left ear hearing loss is final.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, depression, and a throat disorder due to asbestos exposure. The veteran was found not to have current diagnoses of depression or a throat disorder, and the VA did not find an association between his in-service experiences and these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed, including VA outpatient treatment records for hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left lateral femoral nerve paresthesias, but denied them on the merits.,Service connection was granted for left lateral femoral nerve paresthesias (meralgia paresthesias of the left lateral thigh).

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The medical evidence did not establish a current psychiatric disability.

The veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The diagnosis includes anxiety disorder and depression, which the VA adjudicator found to have begun during military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence. The RO must issue a supplemental statement of the case with consideration of this new evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for dysthymic disorder with reactive depression and did not address the claim for TDIU due to lack of a perfected appeal.

The veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected depression is being remanded due to the failure to report for a VA psychiatric examination and unclear evidence of the degree of impairment caused by his service-connected condition versus other non-service-connected conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private medical records.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for corns and calluses of the feet was denied, but his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection was granted.,The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. The claims are also being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression. The case is remanded to allow for further development and an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a skin disability secondary to herbicide exposure, and depression. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for depression, including as secondary to a service-connected disability. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and left hip disabilities are remanded.