Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the cervical spine, effective from December 20, 2005. The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder) remains in dispute.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's military service does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.,Service connection was also denied for a current acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) as there is no medical evidence of its onset during or within one year after service, and it is not related to service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further evaluation and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including paranoid schizophrenia, manic depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and brain damage, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and depression are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, and personality disorder, are being evaluated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The veteran's dysthymia has been rated at 70 percent since June 17, 2004. The VA has granted service connection for dysthymia and assigned a higher initial rating.

The veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated as 30 percent disabling from March 17, 2000 to April 24, 2006, and 70 percent disabling from April 25, 2006. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran seeks service connection for major depression with psychotic features, claimed as a mental condition. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development and examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened. The RO has also granted increased evaluations for her right and left calcaneal fractures, each rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional evidence, including service medical records and VA treatment records. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression secondary to migraine headaches. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia secondary to migraine headaches have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The veteran's psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice regarding his increased rating claims and all other issues on appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found that none of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, and no presumption of radiation exposure was applicable.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, that is causally related to his period of active service.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the veteran's low back disorder or depression and/or anxiety, as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, due to lack of evidence linking any current psychiatric complaints or diagnoses to his military service.