Depression Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or upon housebound status is denied due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired neuropsychiatric disorder, including depression.

The veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious mood, to include PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's drug addiction was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore, the claim for service connection for drug addiction is denied.

The VA has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and assigned an initial evaluation of 50 percent. The veteran is now seeking a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder disorder. The claimant's current dysthymic disorder is found to be related to his service-connected right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and a right ankle disorder. The appeals were also denied regarding headaches, neurological symptoms, skin rashes, and chest pain due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was not granted for treatment purposes of an active psychosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression with panic attacks and agoraphobia, is related to his period of active service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The VA has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder with depression, but the claimant argues that this is not sufficient and seeks an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, hypothyroidism, and both Achilles tendinitis have been granted. However, her claims for increased ratings for right and left patellofemoral pain syndrome remain denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a heart condition, and hemorrhoids. The evidence does not support these claims as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence of exposure to combat-related stressors. The RO must request details from the veteran about his claimed stressors and attempt to verify them through USASCRUR.

The Board has found that the appellant has perfected his appeal from the RO's denial of service connection for major depressive episodes due to drug dependency. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The claim is now pending for further review.

The veteran's major depression has been granted a 100% rating since December 1989, effective from the date of his claim. The back disability remains at 60%. The earlier effective date for TDIU is being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, resulting in a denial of the reopening of the claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for glaucoma and a psychiatric disorder have been denied. The current status of the glaucoma is noted, with no present manifestations. For the psychiatric disorder, symptoms are described as moderate with mild occupational impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and grants this issue. The veteran also claims service connection for various other conditions, including joint pain, stomach condition, sleep disorder, night sweats, fatigue, memory loss, depression, headaches, sinus infections with runny nose, and chest pain, all potentially related to an undiagnosed illness during his military service in the Persian Gulf War. The Board finds that further examination is needed for these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral elbow strain, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurological disorders, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.