Depression decisions — 2008

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and obtaining new VA examinations.

The Board granted the petition to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for major depression but denied the claim on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, joint aches, headaches, fatigue, and sleep problems.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for spinal meningitis, major depressive disorder, and an eye disability. The veteran was also denied attempts to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, a bilateral foot disability, and residuals of right and left knee injuries.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as she was not on active duty during the period of the claimed personal assault.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, based on a Notice of Disagreement filed in August 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability and no link to his periods of active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and schizophrenia were denied, while the claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder was remanded. The veteran also has depression.

The case was remanded to the Board for further development, specifically requesting VA to make another attempt to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.

The veteran's service connection claim for peripheral vascular disease of the right leg was denied, while a 20 percent rating was granted for his left tibia fracture with varus deformity and degenerative joint disease since October 25, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for hypertension and depression/anxiety as not supported by the evidence.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for hyperacusis, major depression, and anxiety as they were not shown to be caused or aggravated by the veteran's service or a service-connected disability.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to enable VA to provide the veteran with appropriate notice regarding claims based on new and material evidence.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for chronic foot pain, but the claims for an increased rating for migraines and service connection for depression were denied.

The veteran's major depressive disorder warrants an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The lumbar spine degenerative joint disease does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran has not identified any clear and unmistakable error in the January 1986 rating decision assigning a 50 percent rating for agitated depression with paranoid ideation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and TDIU is being remanded to ensure that all necessary development, including obtaining mental health treatment records from Balboa Naval Hospital and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination, has been completed.

The veteran did not incur additional disability from erectile dysfunction with penile deformity, constant infections and depression as a result of VA surgical procedures in February 2002 and subsequent hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the appellant's depression was not related to service.