Depression decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia with depression is a result of his military service and grants this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and PTSD, on a direct and secondary basis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or a nexus to military service.

The veteran's depression with psychosis has been rated at 100 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The lumbosacral strain remains at a 10 percent evaluation. The claim for individual unemployability is granted as the veteran cannot maintain any gainful employment due to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hemifacial spasm as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of a cervical spine injury. The RO also continued the initial 20 percent rating for major depression.

The veteran's stomach disorder, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and depression with cognitive disorder are presumed to have been incurred in service due to his deployment during the Gulf War. However, there is no evidence linking his breathing problems to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, based on new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in September 1999.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish chronicity and continuity of depressive symptoms since the veteran's period of active service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service symptoms. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's disabilities, including a fixed fracture of the femur and major depression, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Prinzmetal's angina, seizure disorder, and a psychiatric disability (including depression and social phobia), finding no link between these conditions and his military service.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The veteran's service-connected psychoneurotic reactive depression has been found to be manifested by symptoms of intermittent hallucinations, irritability and significant depression that more nearly approximate a disability picture consistent with total social and occupational impairment. As such, the veteran is now eligible for a 100 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of sinusitis and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The combined rating is 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating, but not more. The symptoms include frequent panic attacks and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. Evidence submitted since the May 1988 RO rating decision is considered new and material.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and major depression, stating that there is no evidence of these conditions during his active duty or National Guard service.

The VA determined that the veteran's depressive disorder, which is not linked to any specific service exposure or presumption, warrants a 70 percent disability rating but does not meet the criteria for an even higher initial rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's conversion disorder, characterized by depression, anxiety, and isolated personality traits, does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by depression, recurrent anxiety attacks, intrusive thoughts, disturbances of motivation, nightmares, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The evaluation for PTSD remains at 50 percent.