Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to speculative opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back, right wrist, and major depression disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's depression and borderline personality disorder and her service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, depression, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and hypertension are all service-connected.,However, it is noted that these conditions were not shown during active duty or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is secondary to his abuse of alcohol, which began in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, is denied.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that a VA psychiatrist's opinion is needed to determine whether the veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depression, was either the principal or contributory cause of his suicide. Additionally, it needs to be determined if the gunshot wound to the head causing death was related to service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety, finding that his current diagnosis of alcohol dependence with episodes of depressed and anxious mood was in remission and directly due to and exacerbated by his alcohol abuse (including during service).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities (headaches and depression) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric conditions are not related to his active duty service, but rather due to intentional misconduct. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's initial rating for his depressive disorder has been granted at a 70 percent disability rating since August 15, 2007.

The Board has determined that the veteran first manifested depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, within the first post-service year and grants service connection for this condition on a presumptive basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed depression NOS is not due to any event or incident of his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder and psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiners concluded that there was no relationship between the veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a conflict in the issues and the need for further development, including informing the veteran of relevant VA regulations regarding establishment of service connection for diseases due to alcohol and/or drug abuse.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's depression and polysubstance dependence are rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for major depression and service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (claimed as oral cancer) have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not manifest in service, and there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The claim for service connection is denied.