Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The claim for an increased rating for low back disability will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for psychotic disorder with history of depressive disorder and assigned a 50 percent disability rating, effective April 19, 1999. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, are not service-connected due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service. The VA examiners have concluded that the Veteran suffers from a personality disorder, which is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied service connection for depression, bilateral hearing loss, and rash of the groin area due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, and anxiety, has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since April 28, 2008. Total occupational and social impairment is not shown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and depression have been reopened, but the claim for PTSD remains in remand status due to insufficient evidence. The Board also found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has granted the claim for secondary service connection for anxiety and depression, finding that it is related to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, is being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records and verification of his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and major depressive disorder. The evidence received since the last final denial shows a current diagnosis of these conditions following service, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this evaluation did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including a right wrist cyst, left knee disability, psychiatric condition, PTSD, joint pain, rash, and eye/sinus infection. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the claimed stressors and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors during active service in the Gulf War. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found no evidence of an earlier unadjudicated formal or informal claim for depression, and the Veteran's original application did not indicate intent to seek service connection for depression.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of PTSD or depression, nor was a psychosis shown within one year of separation from service. The weight of the competent medical evidence is against a finding that a psychiatric disorder is currently shown.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment over the entire rating period considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other related conditions, is granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has these diagnoses based on reported in-service stressors consistent with his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for PTSD and major depression, entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, and entitlement to an increased rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD on and after October 5, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, fevers and chills, night sweats, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including generalized anxiety disorder) have been granted. The service connection is based on new evidence that reopened the previously denied claim.