Depression decisions — 2003

The veteran's mixed anxiety and depression are rated at 70 percent, but his unemployability due to service-connected disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's recurrent major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are service-connected, as they originated during his period of active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder, NOS. The claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD or other mental disorders is deferred pending further development.

The Board has restored the appellant's original 50 percent disability rating for his depressive disorder, finding that there was material improvement in his condition despite continued use of medication.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder or panic disorder to her service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to lack of anatomical loss or use of one or both lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's combat experiences in service are sufficient to establish a link between his current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected mental disorder resulting from a head injury is now rated at the highest possible level of disability (100%), reflecting total social and industrial inadaptability.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's major depression with psychotic features and dysthymic disorder began during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder has been rated at 50 percent since February 15, 2001. Prior to that date, the evaluation was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran developed depression (claimed as anxiety) in service due to an incident involving a recoil from a howitzer, and this condition is now granted for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a major depressive disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were granted, with effective dates of May 24, 1994, and November 14, 1997 respectively.

The VA has determined that the appellant does not have a current chronic psychiatric disorder that was incurred in service or within any applicable presumptive period for PTSD. The appellant's current psychiatric disability of depression is not due to any incident of service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. However, the Board found no causal relationship between the current psychiatric conditions and active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's major depression did not develop during service and is not related to his military service. The claim was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, fatigue, blurred vision, memory loss, chronic cough, and headaches all claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence submitted since the previous final decision is new and material.

The Board found that the service-connected psychiatric disability contributed substantially or materially to the veteran's death, specifically due to the use of Depakote in treatment of his depression.

The veteran's claims for a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence, an earlier effective date for increased depression with PTSD ratings, and increased PTSD with depression ratings were denied. The veteran was not granted any of the requested benefits.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, insomnia, and depression. The appeals were reopened based on new evidence, but the conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.