Depression decisions — 2003

The veteran's service-connected depression was rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 1997 and increased to 50 percent from that date.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder warrants a 30 percent disability rating, effective from July 27, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar and manic depression, and an increased rating for bronchitis. The denial of both claims is based on insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a left heel fracture, major depressive disorder and PTSD, foot fungus, gastrointestinal disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, sleeplessness due to an undiagnosed illness, headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, and hair loss and acne lesions of the face due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying her claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for cyclitis and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which he claimed was secondary to his service-connected sinus disability. The evidence did not support a compensable rating for cyclitis or establish that the veteran's depression was related to his service-connected sinus disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not qualify him for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment due to lack of qualifying disability.

The VA denied the claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of VA treatment in April and May 1999, finding that the appellant's conditions were not caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include manic depression and bipolar disorder, which was either present during service or otherwise related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that a new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim for increase in disability evaluation for acne vulgaris is granted with a rating of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, encompassing depression and anxiety, is not productive of more than definite social and industrial impairment. The RO has denied the claim for an increased evaluation.

The VA granted the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective January 4, 1999. The decision found that there was no evidence of an earlier claim and that the veteran had not been rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of treatment with LSD-25 by VA in 1967, but did not assign a rating or effective date as the case is still pending.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 17, 1997 for the grant of service connection for the right knee disability. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depression is still pending.

The VA has assigned a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected major depression, effective from November 24, 1998. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and evaluations for ankylosing spondylitis and adjustment disorder with mixed emotions-anxiety and depression as secondary to ankylosing spondylitis, as well as TDIU, are denied. The earliest date of entitlement is September 7, 1993.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia with depression, finding that his disability results in total social and occupational impairment.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the case has become moot.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and her claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of legal merit.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not have its onset in service and was not manifest within one year thereafter. The Board also determined that the acquired psychiatric disability is not causally or etiologically related to and has not been aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.