Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD/depression, hepatitis C, and disabilities involving his lower extremities due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and depression, including secondary to malaria due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or link to service.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is determined to be caused by his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for viral hepatitis and service connection for depressive disorder, to include as secondary to viral hepatitis are being remanded due to the need to address whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed back, neck, and depressive disorder disabilities.,There was no evidence of injury or illness to these conditions during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of blunt head trauma and depression, finding no competent medical evidence of in-service injury or current disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current mental health conditions are related to his military service. The veteran was not present for scheduled examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression as secondary to his varicose veins and for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left leg due to varicose veins.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, including agoraphobia with underlying depression due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's PTSD with major depression resulted in definite social and industrial impairment during the period from October 14, 1976 through March 30, 1997. The Board found no basis for granting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 7, 1997 for the veteran's service-connected schizoaffective disorder and TDIU based on VA inpatient psychiatric treatment at that time.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for depression, stress, and a headache disorder. The veteran's depression was not shown to be related to service, his stress is not a recognized disability entity, and his pre-existing cluster headaches increased in severity during service due to the natural progression of the disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development due to the veteran's failure to report for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, a back disorder, chronic liver disease, depression, tension and anxiety, chronic headaches, and nervous system damage. The decision also addressed his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 21, 2000 for the grant of service connection for major depression with psychoses and personality changes, post meningitis, encephalitis, and head trauma is granted. The effective date will be set to May 19, 1989.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of his service-connected discogenic disease of L5-S1 with lumbar strain was granted, and he is currently receiving a 20% evaluation since November 27, 2007. The issue regarding the psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but no new evidence has been provided to support reopening the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of skin cancer, myocardial infarction, status post removal of a Warthin tumor (thyroid glandular problems), PTSD, major depressive disorder, DJD of the lumbar spine, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and arthritis. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board is remanding the case to consider a secondary service connection claim for depression resulting from a service-connected stomach disability, which may have contributed to the veteran's death.