Depression decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing head injury residuals did not permanently increase in severity during military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, manic depression, and seizure disorder. The veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of his claim in March 1996. Service connection for scoliosis was not established prior to June 9, 1997.

The Board found that the effective date for service connection of Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Depression should be December 18, 1991, as this was when a VA psychiatric examination diagnosed the condition and related it to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disorder and psychiatric disorder are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including residuals of a left knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease, right ankle disorder, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, allowing her to proceed with the merits of her case.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred during active military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for major depression with anxiety features as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition, based on new medical opinions that the veteran's depression was aggravated by his knee pain.

The veteran's TDIU rating was granted and later discontinued. The decision finds that the discontinuance of the TDIU was void ab initio due to failure to consider the appropriate regulatory standard.

The Board found that the veteran's major depressive disorder, rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 9434, did not meet criteria for a higher rating as it resulted in definite social and industrial impairment but no more than occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The veteran's neurotic depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 27, 2000. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, psychiatric disorder (chronic depression), ovarian cysts, and asthmatic bronchitis are all service-connected.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than July 1997 for the award of TDIU benefits is denied. The veteran's claim was received in July 1997, and there is no evidence showing a factual increase in disability warranting TDIU benefits within one year prior to this date.

The veteran's service-connected major depression with psychotic features and mixed bipolar disorder has been rated at 30 percent since the onset of her claim, reflecting moderate social and industrial impairment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current major depression was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for urinary incontinence, personality disorder, and depression. The veteran's urinary incontinence was found to have existed prior to service and not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities from May 6, 1991 through January 8, 1992. For the period from January 9, 1992 to October 16, 1994, she maintained a full-time academic schedule and did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's request for service connection for schizophrenia and depression has been remanded due to the need for a hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected anxiety and depressive reaction, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 24, 2001 or 50 percent beginning May 24, 2001.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.