Depression decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional VA medical records.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and sciatic nerve disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The right inguinal hernia is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disability, however diagnosed.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50 percent since May 1, 2005. The issue of an increased rating for major depression is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied because the additional disability was not caused by VA treatment or examination, and he is ineligible for benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 50% disability rating, effective May 10, 2007. The initial rating for PTSD is in excess of the maximum allowable under the General Rating Formula.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric condition and diabetes mellitus were denied by the RO. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, speech intermittently illogical, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent ability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene), disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of closest relatives, own occupation, or own name. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder with major depressive disorder and hypomania, but denied the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded due to a need for further VA examination and development of evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current mental disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his military service. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are service-connected, as they are part of his conceded combat-related PTSD.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a cardiac disorder, a liver disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (depression). The appeal is also granted to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disorders. An effective date of August 9, 2004, was assigned for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and sleeping disorder are service connected, with the latter being related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's depression is service connected. Service connection for varicose veins of the right leg and left leg was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective September 9, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, and an increased rating for gastrointestinal disorders are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence received since April 1997 is new and material, meeting the requirements to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected low back strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, residuals of myocardial infarction, and adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features. The current ratings are found to be appropriate based on the evidence provided.