Depression decisions — 2001

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, was not incurred in or related to his period of service. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a nervous disorder to include depression, and compensable ratings for residuals of a scar of the left thumb and residuals of a fracture of the left ankle. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, including headaches and depression. The Board has ordered additional examinations to determine the nature and extent of any current disabilities and whether they are related to the July 1972 injury in service.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, neck injury, kidney/bladder disability, vision problems (undiagnosed), depression (undiagnosed), TMJ (undiagnosed), fibromyalgia (undiagnosed), and gastrointestinal disability (undiagnosed).

The Board has determined that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease is primarily manifested by episodes of heartburn, early satiety, pyrosis, regurgitation, and epigastric pain occurring 2 to 3 times a week. The current rating for this condition remains at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for nerve problems, fatigue, and skin rash due to undiagnosed illness have been denied as the conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible rating of 100 percent, reflecting total occupational and social impairment. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for recurrent major depression since November 4, 1998. The veteran's symptoms prior to February 2000 included occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, difficulty sleeping, and loss of energy.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depression, finding that the February 1980 denial is final and that the earliest possible date for the grant of benefits was October 21, 1998.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cause of death, but denied it due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's death to a service-connected disability.

The veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his multiple disabling conditions, which render him unable to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment on a regular basis.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date earlier than May 15, 1995 for a total disability evaluation for major depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease contributed substantially to his death, granting service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's service-connected left patellofemoral syndrome, bronchial asthma, and anxiety disorder have been rated at their maximum levels since July 10, 1998.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on all issues due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol abuse, finding that her current alcoholism is not linked to her service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his psychiatric conditions.

The veteran's multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, including postoperative lumbar laminectomy, depressive disorder, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.