Depression decisions — 2004

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU, but found that an effective date prior to March 1, 2002 is not warranted due to the revised undiagnosed illness statute.

The veteran's depression is productive of occupational and social impairment that most nearly approximates total, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and major depressive disorder, including issues of service connection and initial disability rating. The RO must ensure that all notification and development required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD, finding that the symptoms do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's bipolar disorder, formerly diagnosed as major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, was rated at 50 percent from June 2, 1994, to March 27, 2002. Since then, the rating has been increased to 100 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected conditions, including multiple joint pain, chronic fatigue with lightheadedness and dizziness, mood disorder with depression and parasomnia, degenerative disc disease at C6-7, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected depression does not warrant a higher initial rating, and thus denied her claim for an increased rating. The VA examination report in November 2003 is deemed inadequate to rate hip disorders due to insufficient information provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression, secondary to his right shoulder injury, requires further development and review. The case is being remanded to determine the extent of any relationship between the veteran's current depression and his service-connected right shoulder injury.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension on account of need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The veteran's major depression disorder with psychotic features was granted service connection as it may be presumed to have been incurred in service. However, the veteran's PTSD claim was denied due to lack of supporting evidence and inconsistent diagnoses.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities to her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected chronic brain syndrome is rated at 30 percent, and his depression and anxiety are not found to be related to the service-connected head trauma.

The veteran is seeking service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with major depression, which he claims began in service and/or is related to his service-connected stomach disability. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to conflicting evidence in the file.

The Board found that the veteran's depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, manifested during service and is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression as secondary to her service-connected residuals of a hysterectomy and entitlement to TDIU, finding that there was no evidence linking her current depression to her service or service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression, and ratings for his right shoulder disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disability and for an increased rating for residuals of head injury. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current psychiatric disability to service, nor did it find any clear association between the veteran's closed-head trauma in service and his schizo-affective disorder.