Depression decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for PTSD and other conditions were granted, with the presumption of service connection due to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Gulf War.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's hospitalizations were for treatment of non-service-connected conditions and did not meet the criteria for a temporary total disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29.

The veteran is granted a special monthly pension on account of being housebound due to his service-connected schizoaffective disorder and major depression with psychotic features, which result in total occupational and social impairment. The need for regular aid and attendance from another person is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression) but denied his claim for left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's physical incapacity requires regular aid and attendance of another person to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting special monthly pension.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back disorder.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for stomach and leg disorders, leaving no issues remaining for the Board to consider.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during service and insufficient medical evidence to link current conditions to service. The claims for major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD were denied.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and a brain tumor (pituitary microadenoma) due to lack of evidence supporting the occurrence of these conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression. The appeals were based on direct evidence from service records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the severity of his low back strain and whether he has depression secondary to service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's symptoms for PTSD do not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new and material evidence received since the October 1999 decision, reopening the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The right knee rating issue is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus denies his claim for a TDIU rating.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder, and general anxiety disorder was denied by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to corroborate in-service stressors and determine service connection for psychiatric disorders, head injury residuals, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depression, results in severe occupational impairment with deficiencies in judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board has determined that a 70 percent rating is warranted for this condition.