Depression decisions — 2007

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including depression, is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and left foot disorder are not service-connected, with the exception of a current diagnosis of alcoholism. The veteran's service-connected fracture of the distal left fibula is not found to have caused or aggravated his psychiatric disorder or left foot disability.

From October 21, 2003 to May 31, 2004, the veteran was awarded a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with major depression.,Effective June 1, 2004, the veteran received a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, prostate enlargement, depression, and poor circulation in the left leg, all allegedly due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his time in service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Major Depressive Disorder, based on evidence of a current disability, a link between the in-service stressor and the current condition, and new evidence that supports the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and her current depressive disorder is not service connected.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, increased ratings for major depressive disorder and gouty arthritis, and TDIU. The evidence did not show that his current disabilities were caused or made worse by military service.

The veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with depression is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The RO denied service connection for depression, hypertension, arthritis and asbestos exposure. The veteran is requesting a Board hearing to appeal these decisions.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was manifested during his active duty service and the Board finds that it is related to service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability are being remanded for additional development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder with somatization and a bilateral ankle disability, finding that the veteran's conditions pre-existed service and were aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA mental health examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, including depression as secondary to the service connected right femoral neck fracture. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for major depressive disorder and an earlier effective date for his 60 percent initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the revised criteria for evaluating spinal disabilities. The other claims were either granted or denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his active service, including his participation in counterinsurgency operations in Vietnam. Service connection is therefore granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue, pain and depression, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and hepatitis C. The decision also addressed issues related to reopening previously denied claims and assigned a rating of zero percent for hepatitis.