Depression decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression, finding that the veteran's stressors are combat-related and his lay testimony is sufficient to establish their occurrence. The diagnoses of PTSD and major depression from VA examinations outweigh earlier diagnoses of depression only.

The Board granted an effective date of January 20, 2001 for the grant of service connection for depression with anxiety as secondary to service-connected paroxysmal atrial tachycardia and TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression and fibromyalgia, finding that a timely notice of disagreement was not filed within one year of the November 1997 denial.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of her claims, including those related to an initial compensable rating for major depression from April 15, 1981 to March 13, 1994, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depression from March 14, 1994, and entitlement to a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression and the left knee disability. The veteran is seeking a higher initial rating for his left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, hypertension, depression, low back strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis, voyeurism, and depression were denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his period of active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features. The evidence submitted since the January 1999 rating decision is considered new and material.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration records. The case must also be adjudicated in light of VA regulations regarding service connection for secondary psychiatric disorders.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those claimed as a result of undiagnosed illness. The Board concluded that none of the claimed disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder is currently manifested by severe social and industrial impairment, without such symptoms as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; and memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. Therefore, a rating greater than 70 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or depression related to service. The claims for both conditions are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, major depression, as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and compensable ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral pneumothoraces are dismissed due to a lack of timely submission of a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression warrants a 100% evaluation, effective from April 11, 2000. The issues of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss are addressed in the remand section.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for Bipolar II disorder, i.e., recurrent, major depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes, finding that the current condition is related to a disease or injury during active peacetime service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's depressive disorder, finding that it meets the criteria for such a rating based on moderate symptoms. The claim for increased evaluation of degenerative disc disease L4-L5 remains denied.