Depression decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and depression as there was no competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The veteran's major depression and generalized anxiety disorder are currently manifested by depressed mood, occasional suicidal ideation, and panic attacks. The Board finds that the symptoms do not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his hydrocelectomy scar, service connection for his right and left lower extremity disorders (right knee and left knee), were all denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and automobile/adaptive equipment, finding that he did not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression and an anxiety disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice and for additional development of the veteran's claim.

The veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his employability and Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are service-connected, while paralumbar myositis is not. Joint pain, generalized arthralgia, and shortness of breath are not service-connected. The GI disorder (irritable bowel syndrome) is also not service-connected.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 8, 1997 for the grant of service connection for major depression. The veteran's representative is now seeking an earlier effective date for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, type II does not warrant an evaluation greater than 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and dysthemic disorder, are not related to his military service.

The Board has found that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his active service and therefore denied all three issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying in-service stressors. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to October 10, 2006. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a right hand fracture, hepatitis C, and a left cheek scar as there was no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's major depressive disorder was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected depression with PTSD, right knee sprain with patellar tendonitis, and thoracic spine degenerative joint disease. The current ratings of 50% for each condition are maintained.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression warrants a 50 percent rating effective July 28, 2005.

The VA determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of depression is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.