Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (depression) are related to her military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was granted effective February 3, 2006. The decision is based on the severity of his service-connected depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Veteran was granted service connection for major depression and assigned a 30 percent disability rating effective September 8, 2005. The initial staged ratings for coronary artery disease were also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service and whether any pre-existing disability was aggravated by service. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee scar, arthritis of the pelvic bones, and shin splints were denied. The Board found that there was no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and dysthymic/depressive disorder), head trauma residuals, or hypertension in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of his claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety with short-term memory loss and irritability.

The Veteran's Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome is rated at 60 percent disabling, and his depression is rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome but not for depression.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted due to moderate social and occupational impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability or psychiatric disability related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mood-related psychiatric disabilities, including dysthymic disorder and depression, are at least in part related to his active military service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying ACDUTRA service dates and scheduling VA examinations to address the appellant's claims. The issues include reopening previously denied claims of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right foot disability, as well as determining whether new evidence supports reopening other claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a nervous disorder, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders and periodontal disease. The decision is mixed as it grants one claim and denies two.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure compliance with applicable law and regulations, including obtaining private treatment records, verifying military sexual trauma allegations, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral radiculopathy and depressive disorder, precluded gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise have qualified him from December 16, 2003 to August 9, 2004. The TDIU claim is granted during this period.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors and need for further development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and PTSD due to additional development needed. The claim will be reconsidered on a direct basis.