Depression decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD related to his period of service and denied both claims for service connection and pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 1998, for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depression.

The veteran's rating for major depressive disorder was increased from 10% to 50%. The RO also granted a temporary total rating based on VA hospitalization.

The veteran's depression is granted service connection, but his tinea pedis and frostbite claims are denied.

The Board has determined that additional clarification is needed regarding the veteran's TDIU claim due to his service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric and physical impairments. The RO must obtain updated medical records, conduct further examinations, and reassess the veteran's employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination for the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and basic eligibility for survivors'/dependents' educational assistance under chapter 35, title 38, United States Code.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for lower extremity jerking was dismissed as no timely substantive appeal was filed.

The Board has determined that the current record does not contain sufficient medical information to make a determination on whether the veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and adjudication of increased disability ratings.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as it only causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 60 percent, and separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities. The claim for increased rating for major depression remains pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to compensation benefits as the helpless child of her veteran father due to insufficient evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support at or before her 18th birthday.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, depression with a sleep disorder, cardiovascular disorder, influenza and colds, weakness and fatigue, noise and light sensitivity, and Raynaud's disease. The reasons were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year thereafter, and the veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to support his claims.

The veteran's muscle and joint pain, fatigue, memory loss, psychiatric disability (including depression and a personality disorder), and headaches are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection due to undiagnosed illnesses or direct service incurrence.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD symptoms, including major depressive disorder, resulted in considerable social and industrial impairment from January 31, 1995 to November 6, 1996. After this period, his symptoms were still productive of considerable social and industrial impairment. The appeal was granted with a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Board denied an increased rating for organic brain syndrome, finding that the disability was not productive of more than slight or mild social and industrial impairment.

The VA has awarded a 50 percent rating for the veteran's major depression, recurrent with psychotic features since November 5, 1996. The case is being remanded to consider the claim under both old and new criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder was chronically increased by his service-connected L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy with a bulging disc, L5-S1.

The veteran's appeal involves the propriety of initial and staged ratings for service-connected major depression, including a request for TDIU based on this condition. The RO is directed to obtain all outstanding VA medical records and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for postphlebitic syndrome of the right and left lower extremities, but denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The veteran is currently receiving a 20 percent evaluation for her postphlebitic syndrome.