Depression decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder traumatic arthritis and major depression as secondary to his right shoulder disability. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, due to disease or injury incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot condition, low back disability, sexually transmitted disease (claimed as gonorrhea), depression, and right hand disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is also being remanded.,The veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection of a bilateral foot condition and his claim for a clothing allowance are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that the veteran did not have a pre-existing psychiatric condition and that his current depression is not related to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD, finding that his condition primarily results in depression, anger, irritability, paranoia, anxiety, sleep disturbances, intrusive thoughts, social isolation with a strong preference to be alone, an exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance and restricted affect, all resulting in moderate but not severe social and occupational impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence and requires a supplemental opinion from the November 2005 VA examiner regarding whether the veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied a T/R in July and September 1986, March 1987, and November 1988 due to the RO's finding that the evidence did not establish the fact that the veteran's service-connected disabilities were of such severity as to render him incapable of acquiring and retaining substantially gainful employment. The veteran appealed this decision, arguing for an earlier effective date based on his unemployability from July 1985 onwards.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities in January 1986. The decision was based on evidence indicating that the veteran could engage in substantial work despite his service-connected psychiatric and skin disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder have been manifested by anxiety, panic attacks, depression, lack of concentration, nightmarish thoughts, hypervigilance, sleep impairment, intermittent suicidal ideations, anger, and low motivation and energy. The symptoms do not produce total social and occupational impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's central nervous system damage, including brain damage and attention deficit disorder, was aggravated by his active duty for training. The psychiatric disorder, specifically a depressive disorder with anxiety, is considered to be secondary to the now service-connected central nervous system damage due to head injuries during active duty for training. Headaches are also found to have been incurred in active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, psychosis, and a depressive disorder, as a result of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and depression are directly related to his active service, including combat experiences in Vietnam. Service connection is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression and PTSD has been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 22, 2000, based on symptoms including chronic sleep impairment, depression, anxiety, and poor abstract thinking.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, hepatitis C, major depressive disorder (MDD), and a skin disability. The claim for erectile dysfunction was referred to the RO for further action.

The veteran's PTSD with depression is found to be related to in-service stressful events, and service connection for this condition has been granted.,Bilateral tinnitus was found to have occurred during active service due to acoustic trauma exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for hepatitis C, and service connection for depression are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, dorsal kyphosis (Scheurman's disease), and tinnitus, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, he is granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.