Depression decisions — 2002

The Board granted an effective date of November 30, 1988 for the veteran's claim seeking a 100% disability rating for schizophrenia with tension headaches and periodic depression.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depression with Psychotic Features, effective September 2, 2000. The veteran's claim was based on new evidence submitted after his initial claims.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety depression and pain disorder with tension headaches do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's depressive disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Service connection for migraine headaches is granted with an effective date of November 9, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions and COPD did not contribute substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The veteran's appeal regarding the effective dates of benefits assigned by rating decisions in December 1998 and January 1999 was denied because he did not timely file a notice of disagreement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding no legal basis for compensation prior to March 4, 1993, and that it is not factually ascertainable whether his disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia and depression, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the last final denial in June 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as a depressive disorder or as schizophrenic symptomatology, and claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The RO denied an increased rating for his mandibular fracture residuals and paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve, but granted a separate rating for this condition. His depressive disorder was also granted, with no referral to extra-schedular consideration. The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's organic brain syndrome and chondromalacia of the right knee, with a 30 percent evaluation for organic brain syndrome and a 20 percent evaluation for chondromalacia. The depression claim was denied as not service-connected.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is now shown to be manifested by a level of impairment that more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent rating, warranting an increased disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The appellant argued that her husband's psychiatric condition caused his respiratory failure and pneumonia, but the Board concluded that his anxiety disorder and depression were not significant factors in his death.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, low back disability and right shoulder disability are all productive of significant impairment in work, thinking and mood. The increased evaluations for these conditions have been granted.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and adult adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression due to new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The veteran's insurance claim is deferred until this issue is resolved.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression as being secondary to the veteran's service-connected depressive neurosis.