Depression decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that additional development is required before deciding the veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder or other acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the injuries sustained on June 21, 1986 were incurred in the line of duty and granted service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected and denied his claims for hypertension, PTSD, and depression.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected rheumatic fever.

The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for clarification on the type of disability rating and effective date in the event of an award.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The claim was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran's effective date for a 60% disability evaluation for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is set at June 18, 2004. His effective date for a 70% disability evaluation for Major Depressive Disorder is also set at July 29, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most activities of daily living without assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depression, and alcohol and substance abuse due to a lack of evidence supporting a diagnosis based on an in-service stressor. The veteran was not found to have engaged in combat with the enemy during his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection claim for cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for major depression.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain missing records from New Orleans VAMC, Greenville Spring State Hospital, and Dr. Maresh in order to make a decision on the veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressor, and thus denied service connection for PTSD with depression.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining medical records from Walter Reed Army Hospital Center and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of any cold injury to the feet or depressive disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for stomach problems (claimed as dysentery and diarrhea) as secondary to exposure to DDT, and for depression. The veteran's claim was denied because there was no evidence of a bowel condition or depression during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability, disability manifested by chest pain, or sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied. Service connection is granted for a psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), heel spurs, and bilateral shoulder arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 13, 2003 for a 100 percent disability rating for chronic brain injury and for service connection of hepatitis C. The veteran was granted a 20 percent initial disability rating for his hepatitis C.,The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's disabilities, including chronic left shoulder degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the low back and hips, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral dupuytrens contractures, and depression or dysthymia, are considered to be permanent and result in his being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of all his disabilities, including those not related to willful misconduct.