Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unfeasible for a vocational goal, and the requested home-based woodworking activity is not necessary to improve his independence in daily living.

The Board has determined that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and right knee chondromalacia.

The Board has ordered the VA to conduct further examinations and review of evidence in order to determine appropriate evaluations for DDD, service connection for depression secondary to DDD, and TDIU. The case is being remanded due to inconsistencies in previous examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and cervical disc disease have been reopened. The claim of service connection for major depressive disorder remains granted. A compensable rating for scars of the right shoulder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for DDD, L3-L4-L5-S1 was granted. His claim for an increased rating for depression associated with his service-connected DDD was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of depression, multi-level degenerative changes, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's reported combat stressors and to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the PTSD claim and that the claimed psychiatric condition was not due to herbicide exposure or other disease incurred in service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety and depression. The Board has ordered remand due to the need to obtain additional medical records and personnel files.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service or any aspect thereof, and his acquired psychiatric condition (including depression and anxiety) did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his period of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for anxiety disorder and TDIU rating, finding that neither document submitted by the Veteran constituted a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, were incurred during active service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed features was not related to his military service.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depression, finding that her symptoms meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression and sleep apnea are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance by another person or due to being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits.