Depression decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for increased rating of his right knee disability and a total rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD and depression secondary to the right knee disability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer, as well as his claim for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with psychophysiologic intestinal reaction. The veteran was granted service connection for major depressive disorder but not for Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer.,The Board also denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to new procedural requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and for additional development related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, chronic fatigue, back and joint pain, psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depression, anxiety), and PTSD. The reasons were that there was no medical evidence of a causal link between the veteran's symptoms and his active duty service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to August 23, 1996. His TDIU was granted effective from that date.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and depression, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities had increased to warrant a TDIU as of October 29, 1996. The effective date for the grant of entitlement to TDIU is set at this date.

The Board dismissed the matter as it does not have jurisdiction to decide eligibility for direct payment of a withheld contingency fee under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5904(d).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 1999 for his nonservice-connected disability pension benefits. The evidence showed that entitlement to these benefits arose on or after March 18, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hemorrhoids, anxiety and depression (claimed as a nervous condition), and angina are related to his service due to an undiagnosed illness. The claims for heart disorder have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant is demonstrably unable to retain employment due to his psychiatric conditions, specifically PTSD. The criteria for a 100 percent rating are met under the old diagnostic code and therefore a 100 percent schedular rating is granted from the date of claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is a mixed decision, with some issues granted and others not. The appeal involves whether his anxiety and depression are related to his Bell's palsy residuals or his seizure disorder.

The VA has restored a 100% schedular rating for major depression with psychotic features, effective August 1, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and somatoform disorder, IBS, GERD, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are found to be of such severity as to preclude her from obtaining or retaining a substantially gainful occupation. The combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's schizophrenia with depression was manifested by anxiety, depression, panic, paranoid ideas, limited concentration and memory, auditory hallucinations, delusions, depression, difficulty sleeping, suicidal thoughts, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 31 to 55. The Board found that the criteria for a total schedular evaluation for schizophrenia with depression have been met.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression, hypertension, and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability were denied. The July 1982 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension was upheld as not involving clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for depression was granted, and the other two issues regarding degenerative changes at L5-S1 with disc bulge and migraine headaches were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as his claim for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities. The psychiatric disability was granted but with some limitation due to its secondary nature to the knee conditions.

The Board granted service connection for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder and dysthymia effective from January 7, 1994. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for her psychiatric condition was also granted. However, the issue of TMJ syndrome remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer, depression, and anxiety.