Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his left shoulder disability remains at 10 percent. The effective date for these ratings has not been determined.

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are granted a rating of 20 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded to determine its etiology and relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms are indicative of no greater occupational and social impairment than as due to moderate symptoms with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board found no evidence of an in-service stressor and concluded that the current psychiatric disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for migratory arthritis, which is rated at 40 percent. The case is now remanded to determine if the veteran's major depression is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back disorder and anxiety/depression are not related to her active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 6, 2003, for the grant of TDIU was denied as he did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depressive disorder, PTSD, or any other service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess his service-connected disabilities and any new or increased disabilities, as well as the impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for major depression, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected left upper extremity disabilities. He also seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left elbow scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions (depression, headaches, weakness of upper and lower extremities, shortness of breath) related to his service-connected cervical paravertebral myofasciitis. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD secondary to military sexual trauma (MST) and depression secondary to a service-connected skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or sufficient corroborating evidence from other sources.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his alleged sexual assault during service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for depression, reopened claims for service connection for various conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral polyneuropathy of the legs, and denied other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if service connection can be established for anxiety and depression, and whether TDIU is warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's loss of use of the left arm was not caused by VA negligence or carelessness, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his psychiatric disorder, which he claims is related to his service-connected hepatitis C. The issue of overpayment of pension benefits will be addressed in a separate statement of the case.

The veteran's major depression has been rated at 50 percent since July 19, 1990. The Board found that the symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.