Depression decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing the veteran with a VA Form 21-22 to appoint his representative and ensuring that all notification and assistance requirements are fully complied with. The claim will be adjudicated again after the additional development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment of accrued benefits for a period in excess of two years, as the veteran died prior to December 16, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current major depression is not due to any event or incident of his period of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's not otherwise specified depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent disability evaluation effective September 20, 2007. The RO also granted an earlier effective date of April 16, 1999 for the award of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death, caused by rhabdomyolysis, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, depression, and aggravated diabetes.

The Board has denied service connection for a personality disorder, but granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder with depression. The veteran's left thumb fractures are currently rated as non-compensable.

The veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety/depression, which he claims was caused by a collision and subsequent fire aboard the U.S.S. Belknap during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, to include as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left wrist injury residuals.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the veteran's depressive disorder, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The right ankle disability and post-traumatic headaches are rated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression and did not find any evidence linking his depression to service or to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, the claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice and for obtaining VA pharmacy records. The primary issue is service connection for the cause of death, which may be related to a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private medical center on January 4, 2004 is denied as there was no emergency condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and alcohol dependence, finding no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and a need for additional evidence from SSA.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical opinions on the nature and etiology of the veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board found that the veteran's depression was not incurred in or aggravated by service and was not the result of her service-connected hysterectomy.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of depression is being remanded due to the need for VCAA notification and potential consideration of a CUE issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a causal connection between these conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety was granted, and the effective date of this award is set at April 30, 2002.