Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly fibromyalgia, render him unable to tend to the basic functions of self-care without regular assistance from another person and make him vulnerable to the hazards and dangers incident to his environment. The criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance have been met.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and psychiatric evaluations.

The veteran's service connection claim for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, is granted as the condition was initially manifested during service and has continued since separation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and hip conditions, as well as her claim for a left hand disorder and depressive disorder. The evidence submitted since the July 1992 denial did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an eye injury, depression, and hepatitis C. The claim for a compensable rating for chronic epididymitis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder, is productive of total occupational and social impairment. The Board has determined that a 100 percent rating for this condition is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depression, are related to her active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's appeal was denied for various issues including service connection, ratings for knee and depression disabilities, and TDIU. The case is remanded for further development.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The hearing will be scheduled before your case is further considered.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that a 30 percent rating was warranted for GERD and a 20 percent rating was not met for DDD. The effective date remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions.

The Board has found the veteran's PTSD to be incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. As such, these claims remain denied.

The veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular disease are service-connected. Service connection for hepatitis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for abnormal blood (hypertriglyceridemia) is also denied as it does not constitute a disability. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted, but chronic renal insufficiency remains unestablished.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for HHD was denied, and his claim for a T/R due to service-connected disabilities was also denied. The RO found that the veteran's HHD is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, which meets the minimum schedular criteria for a T/R but does not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's cervical spine and headaches disorders were not incurred during service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a comprehensive medical examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities, specifically those involving his low back and knees. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Anxiety with Depression, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed disabilities and service.