Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran seeks service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder. The Board has determined that the matter requires further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain clarification of the nature of her psychiatric symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of etiological opinion for the veteran's depression and because the veteran was not provided proper VCAA notice regarding disability ratings and effective dates.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and tinnitus. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a depressive disorder was dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a depressive disorder as secondary to his low back disability, an increased rating for his low back disability, and TDIU. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and gender dysphoria. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for varicose vein of the left thigh and an increased disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder have been denied. The reduction in the disability rating for the varicose vein was found to be void ab initio, and the criteria for both conditions were not met for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for systemic nerve damage, stenosis of the lumbar canal with associated right sided sciatica and loss of use of legs with numbness, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, heart condition (claimed as heart palpitations), residuals of chronic prostatitis with retractable testicles, painful erection/ejaculation, and loss of use of a creative organ, and depression. The veteran's service-connected psoriasis was also denied for an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar strain and major depressive disorder, as well as a TDIU claim, were denied by the RO. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on current disability levels.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and depression secondary to prostate cancer, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined disability rating is at least 70 percent, he is granted TDIU benefits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bipolar disorder. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination, is needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or for many years thereafter, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reviewed again after the development to determine if any benefits are granted.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or depressive disorder, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service. Therefore, she was denied service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's initial rating for residuals of multiple neck strain injuries, with traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted at 60 percent prior to September 23, 2002. The combined initial rating since September 23, 2002 is granted at 80 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Major Depression and granted a rating of 10 percent for recurrent laceration of the left lower extremity. The veteran's major depression is found to be related to his employment status rather than service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, uterine fibroids, and a gynecological disorder manifested by atypical multinucleated cells. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was also denied.

The veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features has been rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The RO also granted entitlement to TDIU.