Depression decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient medical evidence linking his current depression to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder during service or for many years following separation, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection. The Board also noted that there was insufficient evidence to support an increased disability evaluation for low back strain.

The veteran's claim for disability compensation for residuals of colostomy, including damaged nerves, loss of sexual function, depression, and chronic pain as a result of VA hospitalization in 1994 is denied because there is no competent medical evidence associating these conditions with the 1994 VA care.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and entitlement to DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no legal merit to these claims.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder and found that the veteran's major depression produces severe impairment in his ability to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, personality disorder, and major depression with psychosis. The claim for PTSD was not well-grounded due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between current symptoms and an in-service stressor. The claims for personality disorder and major depression were legally insufficient as these are not diseases or injuries that can be service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a retroactive award due to insufficient evidence of incapacitation or extensive hospitalization in 1994. The effective date remains January 29, 1998.

The veteran's PTSD resulted in severe impairment from March 21, 1994 to December 3, 1996. From December 4, 1996, the rating for PTSD was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.

The veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depression and anxiety was dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric diagnoses are not related to service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's major depression, recurrent, with dysthymic disorder was rated at 100% effective November 4, 1997.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are well-grounded and will be considered further.

The Board is unable to determine whether the appellant's psychiatric disorder began in service or was due to marital stress. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's claim for an extension of his basic 12-year period of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation training was denied as he voluntarily withdrew from the program before its expiration and maintained full-time employment.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of overpayment of death pension benefits due to a lack of timely filing, as it was more than 180 days after notification of the indebtedness.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for major depression with psychotic features, effective from May 13, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, can be traced back to his service and granted service connection.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder was not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to an incident of service or a service-connected disability.