Depression Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of negative psychological effects secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also granted a 20% disability evaluation for residuals of fracture of the right tibia, but noted that separate ratings were assigned for the right knee and ankle conditions.

The Board denied service connection for depression and granted a 10 percent evaluation for right knee disability, effective July 28, 2004. The veteran's claim for increased rating of the right knee remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder and determine if he is unemployable.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, service connection for post-traumatic brain syndrome, hepatitis C, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression were all denied. The claim of service connection for post-traumatic brain syndrome was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a left clavicle or shoulder disorder, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The VA determined that the veteran's current anxiety and depression were not incurred during his military service.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.,The TDIU rating was dismissed as the 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD precludes assignment of a TDIU.

From April 8, 2003 to May 22, 2007, the veteran's PTSD with panic disorder and major depression was rated at 70 percent.,Effective from May 23, 2007, the veteran is entitled to a 100 percent rating for his PTSD with panic disorder and major depression.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, or anxiety, and diabetes mellitus with secondary conditions was dismissed due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal of the issue of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (claimed as PTSD), and loss of use of a creative organ. Service connection was granted for atherosclerotic heart disease with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The case is remanded to the RO for further development, including verifying stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for a TDIU due to inadequate VCAA notice and because his service connected disabilities may render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The RO must provide VCAA compliant notice, adjudicate the low back disorder claim, schedule VA examinations of all service-connected conditions, and readjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression is related to her service-connected hysterectomy with left salpingectomy and left oophorectomy, which caused chronic pain, loss of self-esteem, and family problems. As a result, secondary service connection for depression is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left ankle, right knee, or depression that is attributable to military service. The veteran's claimed disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 17, 2000, for the grant of service connection for a left foot disability manifested by degenerative joint disease is granted.,The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left foot disability is denied. The current evaluation of 20% is deemed appropriate based on the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and a stomach condition on a direct basis, finding no evidence of chronic disability during service or a relationship to service-connected hepatitis C. Service connection for depression was not addressed as it is unclear whether the veteran's claim was about service connection at all.,There was no credible evidence linking the veteran's current headaches or stomach condition to his military service.