Depression decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities without assistance.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for major depression with psychotic features, which was previously denied in June 1998.

The veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with a 10% evaluation. The claim of depression was reopened due to new evidence received since the June 1995 rating decision.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, which was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and depression, finding that neither condition is related to his period of active military service or to his service-connected left humerus disability.

The Board has granted a higher initial evaluation of 70 percent for dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder, effective from May 29, 1996.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and major depression, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The left and right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher rating possible based on current evidence of record. Service connection for a depressive disorder with anxiety was also denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia and major depression were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service. The preexisting conditions did not show an increase in severity during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, finding that the appellant's period of active duty was discharged under dishonorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct. The Board also found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for his cervical spine disability, an increased evaluation for his migraine headaches, and service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected residuals of head injury. The claim for service connection for a left eye disorder was not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression was incurred during his active duty for training and granted service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and low back disability are not productive of a level of impairment that warrants an increased rating or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35, finding that there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed depression did not begin during service or for many years thereafter and is not causally linked to any incident of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, chondromalacia of the right knee, left shoulder disability, and headaches have all been denied. The evidence submitted since the last final denial does not provide new or material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's depression was not caused or worsened by her service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The VA has denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's depressive disorder with bulimia nervosa, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the August 1977 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for anxiety and depression.