Depression Board decisions

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 8, 2002 for the grant of service connection for a depressive disorder but denied an increased rating for residuals of a cholecystectomy.

The Board denied service connection for depression as there is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment during service, and no medical evidence linking the veteran's current condition to his military service.

The appeal is being remanded to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) and for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The veteran's PTSD and major depression are manifested by severe occupational and social impairment due to sleep disturbance, irritability, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, disruptive emotions, hyper vigilance, social isolation, estrangement, and aggression. The Board finds that a 70 percent rating is warranted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support an effective date prior to March 16, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's testicular nodule, cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, anemia, periodontitis, hemorrhoids, depression (related to PTSD), migraine headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome are not related to his active service. However, the veteran's depression is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was denied because the evidence did not show that he had loss or loss of use of at least one lower extremity, which is required to establish entitlement.

The Board denied the application to reopen a claim of service connection for a pulmonary disability and also denied claims for service connection for memory loss, depression, a prostate disability, a heart disability, and osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression as there was no evidence of an inservice occurrence and no medical evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The claim of service connection for major depressive disorder (previously claimed as a nervous condition) was reopened due to new and material evidence, but the appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with depressed mood and depressive disorder, is etiologically related to the veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, residuals of a left thumb injury, major depressive disorder with panic attacks, and an umbilical hernia as there is no evidence that any of these conditions are related to the veteran's active military service.

The appeal is remanded to ensure compliance with the Joint Motion for Remand, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by complaints of panic attacks, depressive mood, and sleep impairment, with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores indicating no more than moderate impairment. The Board finds that an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's PTSD is not warranted.

The veteran was granted service connection for a cognitive disorder, not otherwise specified, with delusional disorder, major depression and anxiety disorder as of October 18, 1983, but the effective date was later changed to November 21, 2002. The veteran's chronic ulcer disease with epigastric distress, status post vagotomy and antrectomy did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 30, 2002, or 40 percent on and after that date.

The veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and a remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence for the other claims.

The veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed emotion, anxiety and depression was rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer, coronary artery disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and depression/anxiety as they were not shown to be related to the veteran's period of active military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied service connection for depression as there is no evidence of the condition in service or currently.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions, except for pseudoptosis and paralysis of trigeminal nerve which were rated at 10 percent.