Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security records and arranging for a VA examination to address the etiology of the veteran's back disorder.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any psychiatric disorder, as there was no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for depressive disorder cannot be granted as his first formal or informal claim was received on February 5, 2002, which is more than a year after his separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymia and depression are service-connected, as they were diagnosed during her military service. The chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome is also found to be related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, all claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure during service, were denied because there was no credible evidence of the occurrence of the alleged stressors or diseases.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and private medical records. The issue of service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected low back disability will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current depression is not causally related to her period of active service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with VCAA requirements and incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding PTSD claims based on personal assault.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness and lethargy is denied. The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his panic disorder and major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating and TDIU is granted, as these benefits were warranted based on his service-connected right frontotemporal craniotomy with intractable headaches and reactive depression.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and bilateral knee disabilities, but did not specify effective dates or rating assignments. The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or depression as a result of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for major depression and found that the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for headaches did not meet the criteria.

The VA determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is currently in full remission and does not warrant an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective July 1, 2002, to January 30, 2003, was not warranted and restored her original 70 percent rating for her psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations in excess of 10 percent for various conditions, including left and right knee pain, flat feet, ankle disability, depression, and hip pain. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, it was determined that there is no evidence of an in-service stressor and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and higher initial ratings, finding that his service-connected conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of those assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder but denied service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes is remanded due to the failure of the RO to provide proper notice.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.