Depression decisions — 2000

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for her hypothyroidism and service connection for calcium depletion, obesity, anxiety, and depression as secondary to her service-connected hypothyroidism. The RO must review the case in light of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed as moot because the Board has already awarded an effective date of October 17, 1984 for the TDIU rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for major depression was denied in June 1993 and affirmed by the Court. The claim was reopened on July 31, 1995, and granted effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for migraine headaches, depressive disorder, memory loss, and joint aches of the knees and elbows are not legally meritorious as they do not meet the criteria for service connection due to an undiagnosed illness. The symptoms have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her conditions are not related to her military service.

The veteran's daughter, who had a psychiatric disorder since age 11, is not considered permanently incapable of self-support at the time she turned 18, thus denying her eligibility for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits.

The veteran's PTSD is being evaluated, but additional evidence and development are needed to determine the appropriate rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and an allergic skin rash was denied due to insufficient evidence of a service-connected stressor. The RO is directed to attempt to obtain additional records from SSA and VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 30, 1997 for a 100% rating for PTSD and denied his requests for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of L4-L5 and TMJ.

The veteran's lung disorder, skin rashes (including scabies), hypertension, major depression and memory loss, and sleeplessness are not service-connected. The left inguinal hernia is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's status post left knee meniscectomy residuals do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The RO will need to obtain all VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to assess his atypical depression with somatization and chronic low back pain.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and mixed personality disorder (mental depression), but denied his claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The decision is considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board denied service connection for depression, finding that the condition did not begin during active duty for training and was not caused by any incident of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and bilateral pes planus, but granted service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot. The decision did not address foot and ankle disorders as a whole.

The veteran's disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of both hips and depression, prevent him from engaging in any form of gainful employment. As a result, he is granted a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and further investigation is needed before a final decision can be made.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, pulmonary disorder (chest pain and breathing problems), and psychiatric disorders to include PTSD were denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD but not for the other conditions.

The Board found that new evidence, including a private psychiatrist's opinion from 1999, supports reopening the claim of service connection for major depression. The Board concluded that the appellant had a pre-existing condition and that his recent diagnosis was related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and other claimed disabilities due to lack of evidence of an in-service stressor.