Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his mental health treatment records and consideration by the California Department of Veterans Affairs or any newly-appointed representative.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 100% to 10% was not warranted and denied the appeal. The effective date for spouse benefits is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety/depression/bipolar disorder is denied as the earliest possible effective date provided by law and decisions of the Court has been awarded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including depression with insomnia, is related to his military service. The claim will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses and a causal relationship between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing, and no rating or effective date is assigned as this is an initial decision.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding treatment records and a need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the existence and etiology of any PTSD. The Veteran's claim is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on the issues of initial increased evaluations for headaches and chronic thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease due to her withdrawal at a hearing. The right knee disability was granted service connection, but no higher evaluation is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's current depression is related to service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current diagnoses of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder are etiologically related to service. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for discogenic disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The claims to reopen service connection for depression and tendonitis of the left shoulder were also denied, as well as the claim for sleep apnea.

The Board found no nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 24, 2005. The appeal for higher ratings on the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus has been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current depression did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to her period of active military service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and PTSD are currently rated at 50 percent from July 21, 1992, to January 29, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of the Veteran's VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed depression is not related to his military service or his service-connected cervical spine disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as secondary to hypertension and depression, has been denied.

The Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The Board found no credible evidence of a nexus between service and the diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related conditions, including Major Depression and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Moods, based on a verified in-service stressor.