Depression Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is now considered to be due to service. The evidence presented since the last denial supports this conclusion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety/depression secondary to his service-connected right foot disabilities, as well as his increased ratings and compensation claims. The case is being remanded due to a recent visit with his VA orthopedic surgeon.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to a sexual assault during her military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental illness, including paranoia, depression, and PTSD. The VA found no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for dysthymia, which is secondary to a personality disorder with prominent schizoid and narcissistic traits. The decision was based on continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the validity of the veteran's claims for service connection, including verifying stressor events and diagnosing any current psychiatric conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and total compensation rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The Board found that VA's duty to assist required obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between current psychiatric symptoms and service-connected conditions, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of her service-connected diverticulosis and adenomyomatosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the cervical and thoracic spine, depression, chest pains, memory loss, dizziness, weakness in the arms, and weakness in the legs, all claimed as due to undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's PTSD, associated anxiety disorder and major depression are service-connected. He also has a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss and a 10 percent initial rating for postoperative residuals of cancer of the vocal cord.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from the Marine Corps and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and mood disorder, were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that VA medical treatment caused or contributed to her husband's death from acute renal failure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The veteran's depression is being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is related to service-connected lumbosacral sprain or another cause.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and attempting to obtain morning reports related to mumps residuals. The veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and mumps residuals will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for fibromyalgia with history of depression, currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's neurodermatitis is more likely than not related to service, as it began before service but worsened during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that the earliest possible effective date is August 15, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and issuance of an SOC on the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder as a result of lung surgery. The case will be returned to the Board only following the timely submission of a Substantive Appeal.