Depression decisions — 2003

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy. The issue of service connection for headaches secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy is pending and will be addressed in a future remand.

The Board denied service connection for dental disability, refractive error, chronic lumbar sprain, and major depressive disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to inadequate notice and the need to obtain additional evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's major depression is service-connected due to a miscarriage during her first period of active duty, but denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, resolving his claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations. The appeal is currently pending due to this additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD produces significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher initial evaluation of 70 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, which he claimed was secondary to his already service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a psychiatric examination. The issues are whether to grant an increased evaluation for anxiety reaction with depression and to establish an earlier effective date for the disability rating.

The case is being sent back for further development due to the need for additional evidence from the Social Security Administration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date for education assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code, due to a lack of medical evidence showing that his depression prevented him from initiating or completing a program of education during his basic eligibility period.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The veteran's depression was also found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected foot disabilities, leading to service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected cold weather injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, gastritis, and psychiatric disorders. The claim to reopen his ulcers was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including manic depression, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on evidence that these conditions first manifested during service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination. The case will be returned to the RO for this purpose and then reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to newly submitted evidence that has not been reviewed by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder is related to abuse and sexual harassment during her first period of active duty, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due to or the result of multiple service-connected disabilities, including Sjogren's syndrome.

The veteran's service-connected dysthymia, with superimposed major depression, has resulted in a total and permanent disablement socially, emotionally, and industrially since his discharge from service. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating have been met as of the time of the grant of service connection.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder was manifested by serious symptoms of depression, irritability and anxiety prior to June 5, 2000. The Board found that the disability picture more nearly approximated the criteria for a 50 percent rating.