Depression decisions — 2007

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current depression is related to service from October 1963 until March 1964.

The veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation are being remanded due to the submission of additional arguments and evidence. The RO will review these matters and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia are currently rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and major depression, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's service-connected urethral stricture. The claim of service connection for PTSD is also granted as it is linked to the veteran's experiences in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and alcohol dependence, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been provided to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a neurological disability related to his in-service head trauma and denied service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to this same condition. Service connection was also denied for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and therefore cannot establish service connection for any psychiatric condition.

The Board found that the veteran's depression, anxiety, and nerves did not begin during service and are not linked to his military service. Therefore, he was denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining deck logs and verifying stressors. The veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these steps are completed.

The veteran's depression and PTSD are rated at 50 percent effective November 3, 2004. The initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower extremities remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic pneumonia, depression and anxiety, Crohn's disease, and osteoporosis are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected pension.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent from May 30, 2003 to April 4, 2004 and 50 percent since April 5, 2004.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain terminal hospital records and seek an opinion on whether PTSD contributed to the veteran's death. The case is remanded for these actions.

The veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of peritoneal abscess of the right abdomen do not warrant a compensable evaluation. The Board also denied secondary service connection for dysthymic disorder and membranous glomerulonephritis, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board granted service connection for depression as secondary to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and granted service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but denied service connection for an undiagnosed illness of a Persian Gulf veteran. The effective date remains unchanged at October 7, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, cataracts, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to radiation exposure. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during service or related to any in-service radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease due to its presumptive nature as a POW. Service connection for depression was denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, depression, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus due to lack of corroborating evidence and insufficient medical support. The diagnoses were based on reported history rather than documented history.