Depression decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected major depression with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating prior to August 14, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for depression, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as they were not shown to be etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected right hip and knee disabilities.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a new examination and issuing a statement of the case regarding increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety as there was no credible evidence of in-service manifestations or continuity of symptoms since service, and no competent evidence otherwise showing that the claimed disabilities were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for situational depression and PTSD have been reopened, but the claim for a chronic sleep disorder has been denied.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected depression.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was caused by, or aggravated by, active service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent due to constant or nearly constant symptoms refractory to therapy, including widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's major depression has been manifested by anxiety, depression and intermittent suicidal ideation, related to severity of physical symptoms, and has been clinically characterized as no worse than mild to moderate overall.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a major depressive disorder was granted, while the claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's organic personality disorder with symptoms of depression and anxiety is causally related to his inhalation of toxic fumes during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for residuals of a right groin muscle tear and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, residuals of a C2 fracture and impotence secondary to his resultant neurological dysfunction are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as the preponderance of evidence showed that the Veteran does not have this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to either active service or the service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was rated at 50 percent, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than schizoaffective disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD, was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.