Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inability to obtain certain military records and to provide notice of VA's inability to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected acne keloids and his claimed psychiatric disorders. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for depression secondary to the veteran's cervical spine disorder and denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve damage due to his lumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left median nerve laceration and denied his claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability claimed as depression with PTSD. The veteran's left median nerve laceration is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression is not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anger, is rated at 70 percent disabling. He also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major recurrent depression is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hypertension did not begin during service or within one year of separation from active duty. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of a preexisting personality disorder and service connection for GERD. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected Hepatitis C with cirrhosis, was not incurred in active service and is not causally related to or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to May 7, 1997, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim was reopened in May 1997, and the earliest possible effective date is therefore that day.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including major depression and dysthymia, are not related to his service. The in-service diagnosis of adjustment disorder did not lead to a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left shoulder disability and depression, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, Major Depression, Tinnitus, Left Trochanteric Bursitis, and Right Hip Disorder (including hip and knee/leg disorders), are not established as being related to active service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, depression and mental disorder, and tuberculosis due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, and PTSD. The veteran's symptoms were not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The claims of service connection for depression with anxiety, type II diabetes mellitus, and esophageal stricture are being reviewed.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is service-connected as secondary to his PTSD. He also has hepatitis C, which he contends was incurred in-service due to a blood transfusion.,PTSD prior to February 20, 2008: The veteran had some occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not secondary to his service-connected residuals of cold injuries, bilateral feet.