Depression decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of his lower extremities or both buttocks, and therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the lower extremities and a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a certificate of eligibility for a special home adaption grant were denied due to lack of evidence showing anatomical loss or loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including major depression with psychotic features and schizophrenia, began during his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

From October 10, 1999 to July 21, 2002, the veteran's Major Depressive Disorder was manifested by a dysphoric mood and sleep impairment but did not impair his social or occupational functioning.,Since July 22, 2002, the veteran's Major Depressive Disorder has not been productive of symptoms severe enough to interfere with his social or occupational functioning.

The veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and major depression with psychotic episodes, is manifested by total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; inappropriate behavior; inability to perform activities of daily living; disorientation to time; and memory loss. As a result, the veteran's claim for a 100 percent evaluation has been granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, sleep disturbance, depression and irritability, memory loss, duodenal ulcer with rectal bleeding, and eczematous dermatitis were all denied. The claim for duodenal ulcer with rectal bleeding was granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and notification actions due to a failure to provide proper notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional records and further development.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain gainful employment.

The veteran's seizure disorder was granted a 100% rating effective July 1, 1999. His depressive disorder was granted an initial 30% evaluation.

The Board finds that the evidence raises a reasonable doubt that the veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's current chronic depressive disorder has been linked by competent medical opinion to her service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that an award of service connection for the veteran's chronic psychiatric disability as secondary to her service-connected disabilities is warranted.

The Board previously denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, but the Court has ordered remand to consider whether the veteran's major depression is related to his military service. The case will be readjudicated with consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder and PTSD. The rating of 10 percent for tinnitus remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's depression is not related to his service-connected low back strain and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as he is currently working.

The VA denied the veteran's request for a higher evaluation for his major depressive disorder, which is currently rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's initial evaluation for service-connected depression was granted at a 30 percent rating, effective July 31, 2001. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the evaluation to higher levels prior to December 4, 2002.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.