Depression decisions — 2007

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for a depressive disorder, thus denying the veteran's appeal.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, depression, and genito-urinary disability. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea manus, pruritis, and a depressive disorder with prominent anxiety symptoms related to service. The veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at 10%.

The VA determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder did not originate during his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric conditions, including delusional disorder, major depression with psychotic features, and schizophrenia, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The examiner concluded that these conditions are more likely related to prior drug abuse rather than his service-connected right index finger injury.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed, including medical records from the Naval base at Port Hueneme and VA examinations for hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, and left ankle disability. The case will be remanded to allow these actions.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to July 15, 2002 for the grant of service connection for a variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD) is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right heel stress fracture, left heel stress fracture, sinusitis, PTSD, mood disorder not otherwise specified (claimed as depression), and back condition. The decision also noted that a VA examination of the feet was scheduled but the veteran did not appear.

The Board found that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of his service-connected gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).

Since July 11, 2003, the veteran's PTSD has been manifested by depression, insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, irritability, avoidance, and hypervigilance. The VA determined that his disability level is consistent with a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, nervous condition (mental health), organic brain syndrome and dementia, and left shoulder disability were all denied. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are not related to active service.

The veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder. The Board has determined that the issue should be remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the validity of the previous diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and its relationship to current depression.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression and organic brain syndrome (initially claimed as memory loss) were denied. The RO also declined to reopen a claim for myositis of the neck, obesity/pluriglandular syndrome, adhesive capsulitis of the shoulders, disabilities of the hips, elbows and knees, nosebleeds, low grade fevers, fatigue, skin sores, bleeding gums, or joint pain in the hips, elbows and knees. The veteran's claims for service connection for sore neck (claimed as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability) were also denied.,The RO did not find new and material evidence to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and sinusitis, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected major depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as the VA medical treatment did not result in additional disabilities, and there was no evidence of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes her from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and work experience. The Board has determined that the veteran is capable of full-time employment, which does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied increased evaluations for left leg gunshot wound residuals and service connection for PTSD and major depression. The veteran's left leg gunshot wounds are rated as no more than moderate muscle disabilities, while his major depression is considered new and material evidence.