Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression and therefore, service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for a neurologic and psychiatric examination, and ensuring that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board finds that the evidence of record is sufficient to warrant an increased rating of 50 percent for the service-connected depression. However, in light of recent evidence submitted by the veteran, the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent must be REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to May 10, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder was aggravated by his service, and he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. His current combined disability evaluation of 80% renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the veteran's depression was not caused by her service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and VA medical records. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on all submitted evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, breathing problems (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rhinitis), erectile dysfunction, neck disability, sleep apnea, and increased rating for chronic back strain. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was denied due to lack of evidence supporting the occurrence of the alleged stressors. The veteran's statements regarding physical assault and racism were not corroborated by other evidence in the record.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, which is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression, while producing significant impairment in social and occupational functioning, does not warrant a schedular evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new documents.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to decide the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia, dementia, and depression.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder and left hip disorder were denied. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.,The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, and right shoulder disorder were all denied. However, the veteran's claims for depression and PTSD have been reopened and granted.,The veteran's right shoulder disorder claim has been reopened but not granted. The veteran's depression claim has also been reopened but not granted. The veteran's PTSD claim has been reopened and granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, dysthymia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for depression and for an earlier effective date prior to April 12, 2006 for service connection for depression.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his VA treatment records from September 2001 to the present and to schedule him for a C&P examination to determine the etiology of his loss of balance. Additionally, he should be scheduled for a psychological examination to determine the etiology of his depression.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for dysthymia and major depressive disorder, but denied the claim of service connection for PTSD. The new evidence does not establish an in-service event related to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's major depressive disorder had its onset during his service.