Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice under VCAA and the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the veteran's medications for his service-connected major depressive disorder have aggravated his diplopia.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, bilateral hip condition, right knee condition, and depression, all secondary to his service-connected excision of mass from distal left thigh and left knee disability. The effective date remains August 16, 2005.

The Board found that the veteran's major depressive disorder did not manifest in service and is not attributable to his time in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and that the diagnoses of PTSD were not based on any verified, credible stressor from the veteran's active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and depression, as well as his attempts to reopen previously denied claims for residuals of a groin injury and esophageal reflux disease. The Board also denied his claim for an earlier effective date for cardiovascular disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD/depression, hepatitis C, and disabilities involving his lower extremities due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and depression, including secondary to malaria due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or link to service.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is determined to be caused by his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for viral hepatitis and service connection for depressive disorder, to include as secondary to viral hepatitis are being remanded due to the need to address whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed back, neck, and depressive disorder disabilities.,There was no evidence of injury or illness to these conditions during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of blunt head trauma and depression, finding no competent medical evidence of in-service injury or current disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current mental health conditions are related to his military service. The veteran was not present for scheduled examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression as secondary to his varicose veins and for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left leg due to varicose veins.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, including agoraphobia with underlying depression due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's PTSD with major depression resulted in definite social and industrial impairment during the period from October 14, 1976 through March 30, 1997. The Board found no basis for granting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 7, 1997 for the veteran's service-connected schizoaffective disorder and TDIU based on VA inpatient psychiatric treatment at that time.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for depression, stress, and a headache disorder. The veteran's depression was not shown to be related to service, his stress is not a recognized disability entity, and his pre-existing cluster headaches increased in severity during service due to the natural progression of the disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development due to the veteran's failure to report for a VA examination.