Depression decisions — 2000

The veteran's hepatic failure, status post liver transplant, is manifested by continuous heartburn, constant gastrointestinal irritation, constant fatigue, and depression. The Board finds a 100 percent schedular evaluation to be warranted based on the evidence of recurrent disabling episodes of several weeks duration, aggregating to three or more times a year, accompanied by disabling symptoms requiring rest therapy.

The Board granted an effective date of December 16, 1988 for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. The RO also granted a 30 percent rating for this condition as of May 23, 1989.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding it not plausible. The claim for a compensable rating for duodenal ulcer was granted but at the lowest possible evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding no current disability and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current major depression to an incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, to include mental behavior with depression, and any such disorder does not have a nexus or relationship to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the extent of his service-connected PTSD and any other acquired psychiatric disorder present. The issue of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD will also be addressed.

The Board found the veteran's claim not well grounded as there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability during service and no nexus between current conditions and service.

The veteran's claims for major depression and anxiety, PTSD, and low back condition are denied as they do not meet the criteria for well-groundedness. The claim for arthritis of the left foot and ankle is also denied.,PTSD was supported by medical evidence linking it to service-related stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression warrants a rating of 100 percent, effective from when his disability was first service-connected.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to the appellant's military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is manifested by chronic and severe depression, sleep disturbances, persistent suicidal ideation, isolation, impaired judgment and concentration, difficulty with family relationships, and generalized paranoia of co-workers. The evidence does not show that the veteran is demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder is well-grounded and grants this claim.

The Board found that the veteran's depressive disorder and dysthymia, with nocturnal enuresis existed prior to service. However, there was no evidence of worsening during active duty.,There is insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that an increased evaluation of 40 percent disabling is warranted for lumbar disc disease due to severe limitation of motion, but not for intervertebral disc syndrome or lumbosacral strain. Service connection for bipolar disorder with depression was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural errors and need for clarification of diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective May 1, 1998. The Board found that the old rating schedule was more favorable and granted a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

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