Depression decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for further development. The case also involves an intertwined issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), also claimed as depressive disorder and anxiety, was remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with the exception of a 30% rating for PTSD from February 22, 2000, and a 50% rating for PTSD from that date forward.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of vision, diabetes mellitus, left leg venous insufficiency, psychiatric disorder (dysthymia and depression), hypertension, lumbosacral strain, heart disorder, and residuals of dental trauma as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, was aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a depressive disorder as there is no evidence of chronic psychiatric disability during service or that the current condition is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disability and PTSD, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a low back disability, as new and material evidence was not found to support reopening of these previously denied claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining unit records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as the evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current conditions and his period of active service.

The veteran's major depressive disorder was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent, effective April 22, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a low back disability rated 40 percent, depressive disorder rated 30 percent, a left knee disability rated 20 percent, residuals of left medial meniscectomy and high tibial osteotomy rated 20 percent, and arthritis of the thoracic spine rated 10 percent, are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from participating in any regular substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as PTSD, major depressive disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, attributing it to in-service personal assaults.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for depression, but further development is needed before a decision on the merits can be made.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development and readjudication of the claim for an increased initial rating for a depressive disorder.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records from VAMC Cleveland and Robinson Memorial Hospital.

The Board denied service connection for depression as there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current depression and his military service.

The veteran's mental disability was granted a 100 percent evaluation due to total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran was not capable of engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to May 7, 2004, and her psychiatric disability did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on direct service connection and in-service aggravation questions.