Depression decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected depression is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his service. The specific in-service stressor(s) for PTSD need to be verified.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cerebral concussion claimed as depression, memory loss, amnesia, and urinary incontinence, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 6, 1996 for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 was granted.,The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 18, 2004 for the grant of service connection for major depression was granted.,The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities was granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a temporary total rating due to hospitalization were denied. The Board found that the residuals of common bile duct repair did not meet criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating, while his depression was rated appropriately at 30 percent.

The veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain disability, which was caused by a post-service back injury.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD related to active service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for major depression with anxiety, finding that the veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for such a rating.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression. The Board has determined that a new VA examination and VCAA notice are required to properly adjudicate the claim.

The veteran died of chondrosarcoma, and the Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to his death or accelerated it.

The Board has found that the record is not sufficiently developed to ensure an informed decision regarding the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran abandoned his claims due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and provide requested information. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbar myositis, degenerative joint disease, and bulging disc is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for major depressive disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period for hypertension. For the major depressive disorder claim, the Board found that while the veteran had significant psychiatric symptoms and continued to experience depression, his GAF scores were consistently within the range indicative of moderate impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric condition, specifically a depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence is against establishing a causal link between his service and his current condition.

The Board found that the appellant's major depressive disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating prior to January 25, 2006 and from January 25, 2006. The evidence showed symptoms consistent with a 30 percent disability rating but not meeting the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's depression is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.