Depression Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his major depressive disorder is being remanded to allow for additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and SSA medical records.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board and RO have denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, heart condition, weakness of the left lower extremity with paresis, sensory deficit on the left side of his body, tinnitus, depressive disorder, headaches, and memory loss. The evidence submitted since previous decisions does not support reopening these claims.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and opinions regarding whether VA's care during the April 28, 2002 hospitalization resulted in appellant's injuries.

The veteran is seeking service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination, is needed to make a determination on his claim.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed skin disorder, hypertension, arthritis/degenerative joint disease, rhinosinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, dizzy spells, and nervous disorders (insomnia, loss of memory, major depression) due to mustard gas exposure as there is no competent evidence verifying full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during active duty service.

The veteran is seeking an additional extension of his delimiting date for educational assistance benefits due to a diagnosed condition, specifically PTSD and severe depression. The RO denied the claim, but the case must be remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to October 11, 2001 was granted and he is now rated at 70 percent for his psychiatric disability. From October 11, 2001 onwards, the claim remains pending as no higher rating has been granted.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional evidence, including service personnel records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the veteran's major depression is not etiologically related to her active service, including any personal assaults she claimed.

The Board has granted service connection for depression secondary to the service-connected vagotomy and pyloroplasty.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of her service-connected depression and dysthymia.

The Board has granted the veteran an effective date of July 2, 1991 for a 100 percent evaluation for residuals of major depression with anxiety disorder and personality disorder. The case is now remanded to obtain additional VA medical records prior to July 2, 1991, and provide VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of November 14, 2001 for his service connection and TDIU ratings due to new evidence submitted in November 2001.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at a local VA office. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, as well as a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied due to his current disabilities not meeting the criteria for such benefits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected major depression and PTSD have been manifested by occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD with depression is causally linked to his in-service physical and emotional trauma, specifically a stress fracture of the left tibia. As such, service connection for PTSD with depression is granted.