Depression decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was filed on September 30, 1998. The evidence did not show he had become unable to work prior to this date.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder and depression with anxiety do not warrant a higher disability rating, as they result in considerable industrial and social impairment but no deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for additional right knee disability and depression due to treatment at VA facilities from 1991 to the present, including surgical procedures in October 1998 and March 1999. The evidence did not show that these conditions were caused by VA care or negligence.

The veteran's hepatitis C, liver damage, and skin disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a neurological disorder during service and the veteran does not have one now. Depression was also not shown to be related to service.

The veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that this rating is appropriate based on his symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed sinus condition, eczema (claimed as dry skin condition), and major depression were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The RO denied these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include depression, a skin condition (tinea versicolor), migraine headaches, and PTSD related to sexual assault.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed as dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder, are not related to his active duty service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD, when evaluated under the criteria for rating psychiatric disabilities, warrants a 70 percent disability evaluation but not higher.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO found no evidence linking his conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as depression, due to a lack of competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between any current depressive disorder and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and a need for an examination to determine if the veteran's current mental disorder is related to her service.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which corresponds to one characteristic of disfigurement under the criteria for skin disorders.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings of lumbar strain and major depressive disorder, as well as service connection for psychiatric disorders other than major depression. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The veteran was found to be individually unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities, effective from March 9, 1995.

The Board found that the veteran has dysthymia/depression, a psychiatric disorder related to his active military service. The claim for PTSD was not granted due to the examiner's reliance on the veteran's exaggerated account of an incident.

The veteran is seeking service connection for depressive disorder, which he claims is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The Board has determined that further examination and development are needed to address this claim.

The veteran is seeking service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and depression. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain his service medical records.

The Board denied service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, PTSD, and major depression as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.