Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's restrictive airways disease is not related to his service, and therefore denied this claim. The veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (Anxiety, Major Depression, PTSD).,The veteran's mental health condition includes anxiety, major depression, and PTSD, with symptoms such as irritability, impaired impulse control resulting in threatened violence, hypervigilance, panic attacks, and nightmares.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to her service, including any pre-existing mental health issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder and right shoulder disability are proximately due to or the result of her service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including clarifying whether the veteran wants a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge and scheduling such a hearing if requested.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, liver condition, and kidney condition are related to his service. The veteran's claims for post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lung disorder have not been established.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and reopened the claim for major depressive disorder, finding that new evidence supports a link to in-service sexual assault.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of clarity in medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since April 28, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to April 24, 2007 and in excess of 70 percent beginning April 24, 2007.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back condition is service-connected, but his depressive disorder is not. The Board found that the current evidence does not support a diagnosis of depression with memory loss.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder during service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current major depressive disorder is not causally related to active service.

The veteran's depressive disorder is manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. Service connection for muscle spasms of the lower back was denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, effective December 4, 2006. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.,Service connection for a depressive disorder and vertigo was denied as the conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.,A May 2007 RO decision increased the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss to 10 percent, effective December 4, 2006. The veteran's claim remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression and PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of in-service stressors or a link between current diagnoses and service.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability, depression, and anxiety with panic attacks. However, the veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for his left thumb fracture.,Service connection for these conditions is not established.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is denied as her service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected based on direct evidence and there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease. The skin rash claim lacks sufficient supporting medical evidence.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for depression, including as secondary to tinnitus and hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder during service or for over thirty years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current depression is not causally related to active service.