Depression decisions — 2001

The veteran's headaches, fatigue, hair loss, and depression are all found to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf region. These conditions were not previously recognized or diagnosed during his military service.

The veteran's authorized medical expenses incurred at St. Mary's from February 28, 2000 to March 2, 2000 are now covered by VA.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis B and C, including depression, was granted. However, the secondary service connection application for a psychiatric disability (depression) is still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis or in-service occurrence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities as of November 21, 1998 and this is the earliest date he could have been granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the veteran developed a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected low back disorder and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for the low back disability is remanded due to lack of recent examination.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 18, 1996 for a grant of an increased disability evaluation for PTSD was granted. The effective date is set at April 18, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected recurrent non-psychotic major depressive disorder warrants a 50 percent disability evaluation, reflecting considerably impaired ability to establish or maintain effective relationships with people and considerable industrial impairment.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased evaluation to 50 percent effective June 11, 2000. Service connection for depression as secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected mental disorder, which had been rated as totally disabling for a period of at least 10 years prior to his death. The appellant is therefore entitled to DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for major depressive disorder, chronic, based on the severity of symptoms and their impact on daily functioning.

The VA has determined that the veteran's major depression, currently rated at 70 percent disabling, does not warrant a higher rating due to the current level of occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating from November 7, 1996, based on considerable impairment in social and industrial functioning.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his disability ratings were denied as the increase in disability was not ascertainable within one year prior to the June 26, 1997 claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for knots on hands, back and knees, psychiatric disorders (claimed as depression and fatigue), and ulcer disorder (claimed as stomach condition). The claim for PTSD was not granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100 percent rating for service-connected major depression is January 25, 1993.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of shell fragment wounds, depression, and a neurological disability claimed as a seizure disorder. The evidence does not support these claims.

The veteran's claim for a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety with depression and PTSD prior to November 3, 1999 was granted by the RO.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.