Depression decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and an initial compensable rating for a peritoneal inclusion cyst. The veteran was not granted service connection for depression, as her claim may not be well grounded without competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis of depression related to military service or a service-connected disability. Her claim for a compensable rating for the peritoneal inclusion cyst is pending.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the VA examinations did not adequately assess his ability to work.

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and special monthly compensation were denied. The service-connected lumbosacral spine disability remains at a 60 percent rating, which is the maximum under applicable criteria.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a major depressive disorder and a cervical spine condition due to an undiagnosed illness is being remanded back to the RO for further review.

The Board finds that the appellant's disabilities do not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claims for special monthly pension by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression were both denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current back condition to service, and that the earliest effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression would be January 3, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and cognitive disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features warrants a 30 percent disability rating, as per the criteria set forth in Diagnostic Code 9434. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected major depression with anxiety and panic attacks is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination, as there are no recent treatment records available.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not provide a new and material basis to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

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

The Board denied service connection for depression and did not reopen the claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's claim for depression was found to be well-grounded, but there is no competent medical evidence linking his current diagnosis of depression to his active service.

The VA has determined that the appellant's psychiatric symptoms, while significant, are primarily due to his substance abuse and do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or depression related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a heart condition secondary to PTSD and assigned a 60% evaluation effective from July 11, 1991. The veteran's claim of TDIU was also granted with an effective date of July 11, 1991.

The Board has denied all claims for increased evaluations, finding that the veteran's conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current evidence of record.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's symptoms are better explained by Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder. The claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that new evidence submitted since the January 1996 rating decision did not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, including major depression. The issue of PTSD was reopened based on new evidence, but the Board concluded that the current diagnosis of PTSD is based on unsubstantiated reports of a stressor provided by the veteran.