Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, consisting of depression and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, do not render him individually unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues not fully addressed in the original decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death, thus granting service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher evaluations or service connection based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining employment records and a VA psychiatric examination to evaluate his major depressive disorder. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the major depressive disorder claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to personal assault, including PTSD and depression, due to lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service sexual assaults.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder due to outstanding medical records and personnel records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and major depression have been granted with effective dates of December 11, 1985, and April 11, 1995 respectively. The Board has determined that the earliest date on which he filed a claim for service connection is December 11, 1985, for hypertension, and thus an earlier effective date cannot be granted.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's right knee disability and service connection for depression. The appeals to reopen final disallowed claims for hypertension and right thumb deformity were also denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's depression with panic disorder and agoraphobia were granted a 50 percent evaluation effective October 18, 2004.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for dysthymic disorder with depression effective January 23, 2004. The veteran's original claim for service connection was granted in March 2002 and the current appeal is about an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected dermatitis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU or DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as he was never rated at 60% disability combined and had no continuous total rating prior to death.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear relationship between the appellant's psychiatric disorder and his service-connected status post left variococelectomy with urinary frequency and erectile dysfunction. Further development of medical records is needed, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to the lack of legal merit, as he did not meet the criteria for receiving such benefits based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, but he is granted service connection for major depression as a consequence of his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the veteran's PTSD, finding total occupational and nearly total social impairment.

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

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating from March 9, 1998 through June 6, 1999.