Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's major depression has been granted a 50 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case to address issues related to dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, including an evaluation of the veteran's schizoaffective disorder and recurrent major depression for accrued benefit purposes.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and depression, finding that the veteran's pes planus did not permanently increase in severity during service and his depression was acute and transitory.

The veteran was awarded a 50% disability rating for major depressive disorder effective July 13, 2000. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's heel spur pre-existed service and if PTSD was incurred in-service. The claims of service connection for depression, residuals of blunt trauma to the abdomen, and sinusitis are also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship between her military service and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left wrist disability and has assigned a 50 percent rating for status-post fusion of the left wrist fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia and major depressive disorder are not proximately due to his service-connected spine disability, while his back disability is rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional monthly DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) because the veteran was not service connected for any disability at the time of his death and did not file a claim for service connection during his lifetime.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected depressive disorder warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from May 14, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression with psychotic features is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine and headache disabilities, which aggravated his psychiatric condition. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition as accrued benefits purposes is granted.

The veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia, manifested by joint pain, is granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression due to incomplete verification of his service records, need for additional VA examinations, and need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and reopening of PTSD and asthma were adjudicated. The decision is mixed: some issues are granted (increased rating for post-traumatic headaches), while others are denied or require further evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial or staged rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected major depressive disorder, finding that it manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered in light of all information received.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including sending an amended VCAA notice and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD are pending.