Depression decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected seizure disorder, is being remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the effective date of January 9, 2004 assigned for a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's major depression with anxiety is correct; and an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's psychiatric disorders are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected skin conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran is not entitled to service connection for a mental disorder, but he is entitled to an earlier effective date of August 23, 1990, for the grant of service connection for a left middle finger scar.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, as the evidence did not show that such condition was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and there was no evidence of a current disability related to right ear hearing loss. The claims for sinusitis and low back pain were reopened based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 100 percent evaluation of major depression, recurrent, severe with psychotic features.

The appeal is remanded to provide the veteran with proper notice regarding new and material evidence, as well as to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability and depression were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, for further development and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a nexus between his claimed conditions and military service or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The appeal is remanded for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, dysthymia, and depressed mood, as the evidence did not show that such a condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and depression, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected depression since July 17, 2006. The claim for PTSD was also granted.

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected psychiatric condition, and the cause of death (ventricular fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome) is not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a Travel Board hearing request. The appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for anxiety, depression and PTSD is currently under review.