Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's major depression is associated with his service-connected PTSD, and there is no evidence of a separate disability. The veteran's polyarthralgias are not shown to be related to Persian Gulf service or any other basis for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension with nephrotic syndrome, low back disorder, and major depression with psychotic disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct link to service or any presumptive conditions.,There is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) sitting at the RO. The case will be processed in accordance with standard appellate practices.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against a disability rating greater than 10 percent for the veteran's residuals of his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder remains pending.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for hypertension or a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative excision, condyle, right fifth metatarsal callous. His claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of tinnitus, service connection for mental disorder, vertigo, and allergic rhinitis were all denied. The RO found that the maximum schedular rating for bilateral tinnitus had been assigned, and there was no evidence linking any current disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and depression is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy, hair loss, sleep disorder, and depression, all claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for depression with anxiety features, which is secondary to the veteran's service-connected disabilities. As a result, the issue of service connection for a nervous condition is moot.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to any traumatic event in service, including a reported sexual assault.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his in-service stressor(s).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety not otherwise specified. The in-service stressor was not verified, and there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder and an earlier effective date, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent. The claim for service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the TDIU award should be June 24, 1997, as this is when the veteran submitted evidence indicating he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has a depressive disorder due to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder with depression and uncontrollable temper was denied as there is no evidence that the current condition began in or was aggravated by service.

The veteran's service connection claim for an undifferentiated somatoform disorder and joint pain was granted, with a rating of 40 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine. The issue regarding joint pain remains unresolved.

The veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant was denied as he is already entitled to specially adapted housing under another provision of law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a compensable initial rating for a skin disability. The evidence did not establish that the veteran had current diagnoses of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorders related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression was rated at 30 percent prior to October 12, 2001 and granted a higher rating of 50 percent from that date.