Depression decisions — 2003

The Board found that Huntington's chorea did not have its onset in service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss as it is presumed incurred due to military service. The psychiatric disorders are secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder with anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with new regulations under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The VA determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or as a result of his military service.

The veteran's initial grant of service connection for major depression was upheld, and a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from September 2, 1998 to the present was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and related conditions are service-connected, with the stressor being her in-service sexual assault.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his single disability rated at 70% and lack of substantial confinement to his dwelling.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the veteran's symptoms are related to his experiences during his active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is currently productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, thinking and mood. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation have been met.

The veteran's depression is found to be proximately due to or the result of her already service-connected PTSD, and thus she is granted service connection for depression secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran suffers from PTSD related to verified in-service stressors and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for depression is remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for chronic adjustment disorder with depression and service connection for infectious hepatitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, and PTSD. The evidence now shows that these conditions may have developed during or shortly after the veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep disorder, depression and nervousness as an anxiety disorder related to Gulf War service. Service connection is also granted for shortness of breath due to Gulf War exposure.

The veteran's asthma was not severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period November 25, 1971, to October 6, 1996. Therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with major depression does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating than 70 percent.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is manifested by symptoms causing occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including general anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for panic disorder with agoraphobia and depression, as well as service connection for hypertension claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.