Depression Board decisions

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated as Level IV. The claim for increased evaluation for PTSD has been granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service and has denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and depression were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no legal basis to award higher ratings or secondary service connection. The veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, tinnitus at maximum schedular rating (10%), diabetes mellitus at 20%, diabetic neuropathy of both upper extremities at 10% each, and major depressive disorder was not found to be related to his diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, during service or within one year thereafter. The residuals of a back injury and bilateral knee injuries are also not shown to be related to service. Hearing loss is not demonstrated as a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and sending corrective VCAA notice.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA treatment records, and the veteran's claim for service connection for a mood disorder is not yet fully developed.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to have been incurred during his Persian Gulf service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, migraine headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not show a link between her current psychiatric conditions and her reserve duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected apical thickening of the lungs and grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, finding that the disability is currently evaluated at 70 percent.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and development of records, including verification of service in the Naval Reserves after 1971, police investigation records related to a shooting incident during service, and FBI investigation records. The veteran's claim for PTSD and depression is also being reviewed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left testicular atrophy and service connection for depressive disorder secondary to his service-connected left testicular atrophy, finding that there was no evidence of direct causation or aggravation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, a psychiatric disorder claimed as manic depression secondary to a head injury, and a low back injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that his claimed conditions were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving a vocational goal, thus denying additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted, with his combined disability rating reaching 90 percent due to the addition of service-connected major depressive disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the back disability claim.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there was no fault on the part of VA in providing medical treatment, and any additional disability was not proximately caused by such care.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as an increased rating for lumbar spine dysfunction, are being remanded due to the need for further evidence and examination.