Depression decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder) and found the claim for a heart disorder not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not related to his service-connected hyperthyroidism. The claim for service connection for Major Depression is denied.

The veteran's claims for chronic hepatitis B or C, major depression, and post-head injury headaches were denied. The veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the right arm, hypertension, depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a back injury as they are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration under the proper legal standard.

The veteran's claim for helpless child benefits was denied in October 1982 and February 1994. The case was reopened in November 1997 with new medical evidence, leading to a grant of the benefit effective from November 20, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, nervous disability to include anxiety and depression, and a hand falling asleep, shaking and dizziness are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of an inservice head injury or any current disabilities related to such an injury.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an increased rating beyond 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder including schizophrenic reaction, schizoid personality disorder, immature personality disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder, and dysthymia. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were not well-grounded, and denied them.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects her symptoms and impairment. The other conditions have not been shown to warrant higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, sinusitis/rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin disorder (claimed as tinea cruris and tinea pedis) are granted. The claim for left knee disorder is not well-grounded.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder and history of major depression.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of her service-connected hysterectomy, service connection for depression and headache disorder are all denied as they are not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for cavernous hemangioma, varicose veins, and initial evaluations for pulmonary disorder (asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and atherosclerotic heart disease are granted. The claim for service connection for depression is also granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with features of depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records, including recent outpatient and inpatient treatment records. A new VA psychiatric examination will also be conducted.

The veteran's depression is rated at 100 percent, and his tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus is denied.

The RO denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's major depression prior to September 7, 1994 and granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for her lumbar laminectomy residuals including spinal stenosis effective as of September 7, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for major depression, finding that his claim was not well-grounded.