Depression Board decisions

The veteran's PTSD with depression is manifested by subjective complaints including chronic sleep disturbance, depression, some suicidal thoughts, anxiety, irritability, and trouble establishing and maintaining relationships. The evidence does not support a higher disability rating as it does not meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder with chronic paranoid schizophrenia are not service-connected, but the effective date for a total evaluation is set at June 4, 2001.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service personnel records and for the veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine his current psychiatric diagnoses and whether they are related to his period of active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorder. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetic retinopathy and depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder due to insufficient evidence. The veteran's current psychiatric condition is unclear in relation to his diabetes mellitus, and there is no objective evidence on unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for Osgood-Schlatter disease, right knee and depression as secondary to the veteran's other conditions. Service connection was denied for degenerative disc disease of the low back, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's depression or any psychiatric disorder is related to service, including his right shoulder injury. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors related to his experiences during service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression, and secondary service connection for memory loss and sleep disorder. Service connection for GERD and hypertension is not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome, chronic rhinosinusitis/sinusitis, residuals of cold weather trauma, residuals of carbon tetrachloride exposure, and depression. The appeals were based on secondary service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The evidence did not establish that any current psychiatric condition is related to service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection and pension eligibility was denied. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA improved pension benefits due to his peacetime active service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability was not incurred during service and is related to substance abuse, specifically alcohol and drug abuse. As a result, the claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depression is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's major depressive disorder and right hand reflex dystrophy do not warrant a higher rating based on their current symptoms.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 13, 2000 for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder, NOS, right shoulder tendonitis, and left shoulder tendonitis.

The Board found that the veteran's major depressive disorder was not incurred or aggravated by military service. The evidence submitted since the RO's February 1997 decision is new and material, thus reopening his claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's PTSD with depression has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since September 27, 2001. The symptoms include flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired short-term and long-term memory, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.