Depression decisions — 2002

The veteran was hospitalized for treatment of major depression and substance abuse, which are not service-connected. The hospitalization did not meet the requirement for a temporary total rating based on a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has major depression, which developed as a result of his active service. The claim for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's diagnosed personality disorders and major depression were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, and therefore denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's heart disease to any incident or condition during active military service.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service stressor and concluded that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's depressive disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, based on her symptoms and their impact on her occupational functioning.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his cause of death, which was due to myocardial infarction and metastatic carcinoma and COPD. The Board concluded that there is no medical relationship between such disabilities and the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his major depressive disorder was granted, and the effective date for service connection was set at January 14, 1991.

The veteran's service-connected left brachial plexitis warrants a 60% evaluation as of October 22, 1992.,Major depression is rated at 50% effective February 23, 2001. The veteran previously received a 30% rating from May 13, 1993.,The veteran's muscle contracture headaches are not compensable prior to May 2, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, insomnia, and personality disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his military service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the veteran's depressive disorder does not warrant an evaluation greater than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new schedular criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's major depression and symptoms of depression, poor appetite, sleep disturbance, memory loss, and poor concentration were not related to service. The claim for weight loss as a disability due to undiagnosed illness was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disorders, finding that his current conditions are not causally related to his qualifying period of service.

The veteran's notice of disagreement was not timely filed within one year from the date of the December 1997 and January 1998 rating decisions, thus his appeal is dismissed.

The VA determined that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder. The pre-existing condition was not aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disability, finding that his depression did not manifest during or within one year after active duty and there was no evidence of psychosis. The Board concluded he is not entitled to service connection on direct or presumptive bases.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or manic-depressive disorder (bipolar) as a result of service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, are severe enough to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of head injury, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to any incident during service.