Depression Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied or are pending. The RO has granted service connection for a depressive disorder but denied claims for chronic fatigue and memory loss, sleep disorders, respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, and a skin rash that was reopened based on new evidence submitted after the initial denial.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence supporting the veteran's claims for service connection for atrophy of the muscles of the right forearm, a right elbow disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The depression claim was also denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for depression secondary to back strain with spondylolisthesis of the L5 vertebra is well grounded. The evidence suggests a relationship between the current disability and the service-connected back disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for scar residuals of laceration with chronic pain and referred the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD to the RO. The veteran's other mental conditions, including PTSD, were not separately rated.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of active military service records and an unclear claim for PTSD. The appellant's claims will be reviewed again with additional information about his service and stressors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim is also considered well-grounded as there is credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors resulting in current diagnoses of PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected conditions were denied. Her major depression was found to be manifested by moderate symptoms resulting in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. The bilateral plantar fasciitis with Achilles tendonitis was found to result in no more than moderate impairment of each foot, warranting a 10 percent evaluation for each foot combined. The stress fracture residuals were not found to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, as well as his claim for Generalized Joint Pain due to an undiagnosed illness during service in SWATO, is well grounded. The evidence supports a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's service.

The Board found that the veteran's asthmatic bronchitis, claimed as COPD, pre-existed service and was not aggravated by it. The claim for depression is not well-grounded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination and additional medical records. The issue of an increased evaluation for depression will also be addressed.

The veteran's pain disorder and major depressive disorder are found to be caused by his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right chest, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression is a direct result of his extended period of emotional stress during and after service, leading to an award of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, to include major depression and PTSD, is not well grounded. The evidence does not show a nexus between any current mental health condition and active service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder, headaches, and skin lesions were not found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is not well grounded, as there is no competent evidence linking his current psychiatric disability to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an adjustment reaction with depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right paratracheal mass, lung base, with mild restrictive respiratory impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected anxiety did not cause or contribute to his death from respiratory failure due to congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. The VA cardiologist concluded it was more likely than not that the stress on the veteran’s cardiovascular system, rather than his service-connected anxiety, contributed to his death.

The Board granted service connection for somatoform pain disorder (claimed as depression) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disability and increased the rating for chronic tension headaches from noncompensable to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as his symptoms are linked to in-service stressors and there is no clear evidence of non-service causation.