Depression decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety as a residual of a SAH does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's depression has been rated at 30 percent from December 20, 1999 to September 9, 2002 and at 70 percent beginning on September 10, 2002. The decision is mixed as both the lower and higher ratings are granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression and anxiety is January 20, 2002.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, citing issues with obtaining all necessary medical records and conducting examinations to assess his disabilities.

The veteran's anxiety/depression is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 70 percent, while his cervical spine disability and low back strain are each rated at 20 percent. The bilateral knee strain and irritable bowel syndrome do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim to reopen the narcolepsy claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or Major Depression related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD with concomitant depression was incurred in active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms are linked to a verified stressor of enemy mortar attacks during his service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for service connection for major depression as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine fusion with degenerative disc disease was granted.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric impairment, characterized by symptoms involving sleep impairment, panic attacks more than once a week, disturbances of mood and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, but without evidence of obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities, intermittent illogical, obscure or irrelevant speech, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene or difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting), approximates the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating. The appeal was denied as the appellant's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, depression, ulcers, stomach problems, and anxiety attacks as these conditions were not incurred during active duty or training.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety neurosis, and finds that it was incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such disorders in service or that they were related to service.

The veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected diffuse cerebral atrophy, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a major depressive disorder, finding no evidence to support that his current condition had its onset during or within one year after his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected major depression with psychotic features and bilateral vagotomy with pyloroplasty for duodenal ulcer, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression and alcoholism, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as major depressive reaction. The evidence submitted since the final denial shows that the veteran had symptoms of depression and anxiety in service which have continued to present a chronic disability.

The Board found that a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, was not shown in service or within one year thereafter and is not related to any incident of service. Therefore, the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, was denied.