Depression decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stomach ulcer, loss of use of a creative organ (sexual dysfunction and impotence), and depression as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a nervous condition to include schizophrenia and depression, finding that there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during active duty for training and insufficient medical evidence linking current psychiatric conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lung and heart disorders due to lack of timely perfection. The appeal remains pending for service connection of depression.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, specifically recurrent major depression with psychotic features, which was incurred during the appellant's active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating since May 1998, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including atypical depression and bipolar disorder, are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO considered additional medical records but did not consider them in conjunction with the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to depression service connection and right knee disability.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current psychiatric disorders and her military service, including harassment allegations. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, and depression. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The claim for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence showing a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The claim for reopening the depression claim was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The tingling sensation of the body, fatigue, memory loss and headaches due to undiagnosed illness are not considered disabling enough for a compensable evaluation. Patello femoral pain syndrome is not related to service or an undiagnosed illness. Depression was also not found to be related to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, xerotic eczema and dyschromia, constipation, and a respiratory disorder. The appeals were based on new evidence that reopened previously denied claims.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder was productive of definite impairment in social and industrial adaptability prior to January 3, 1997. From January 3, 1997 to March 5, 1998, the disorder resulted in considerable occupational and social impairment with intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. After March 6, 1998, the disorder caused severe impairment in work and social relationships.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for depression, finding that the veteran's current left knee pain is related to his military service, but not finding any link between his current depression and his service-connected condition.

The veteran's schizoaffective disorder is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 100 percent, reflecting total impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychosis, schizophrenia, major depression, or PTSD, is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not causally related to treatment received during his terminal period of hospitalization at the Dallas VAMC.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of head injury with tinnitus, migraines, depression, and memory loss, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hiatal hernia and remanded it to the RO for additional development. The claims for major depression, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, headaches, memory loss, brain hemorrhage, fatigue, and body muscle pain are all pending.