Depression decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric, low back, and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression in June 2001 due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) and hemorrhoids, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for various disabilities, including those related to his Persian Gulf War service, have been denied as they are not found to be directly or secondary to his military service.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis and related conditions have been rated at 70 percent since November 1980, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU, finding that the veteran was not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 29, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for a hysterectomy and major depression/generalized anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current major depressive disorder and concluded that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability, depression, is caused by her service-connected lumbosacral strain. The rating for lumbosacral strain has been increased to 40 percent.

The VA has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's major depression, effective from July 13, 1996.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for secondary service connection for a left eye disorder and has also granted an increased rating of 50 percent for major depression.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding no evidence of depression during his period of active duty service and insufficient medical nexus to link current symptoms to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spinocerebellar degeneration may be presumed to have been incurred in service, and his depression is secondary to this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current back and psychiatric conditions are related to service, including reserve component service. The Board determined that any current disabilities were not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board found that the veteran did not raise a valid claim of clear and unmistakable error in RO decisions dated in December 1989, October 1990, or January 1991. The effective date for TDIU benefits was revised from June 17, 1992 to May 23, 1991 based on the veteran's statement indicating additional disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic depression developed as a result of his military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the June 1976 rating decision that denied service connection for neurotic depressive disorder. The RO correctly applied the regulations at the time, which stated personality disorders are not eligible for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression, finding that his symptoms were not related to service and did not meet the criteria for a presumptive disability due to undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a hearing and issuance of a statement of the case on issues related to PTSD, surgical scars of the left foot, and increased evaluation for pes planus and hallux valgus.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms primarily manifested by chronic depression and irritability, sleep impairment, social isolation, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, fluctuating moods, anxiety, partial insight, and impaired personal relationships resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.