Depression Board decisions

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.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of a diagnosis consistent with DSM-IV and no established link between combat trauma or other in-service stressor and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of staged ratings under Fenderson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 119 (1999), and both the former and current rating criteria for psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a cervical spine/neck disability with headaches. The claims for liver disorder, hip disorder, and erectile dysfunction secondary to multiple service-connected disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions or a causal link to military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's major depression does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension on a secondary basis, and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for depression was also denied.

The veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder, specifically Meniere's syndrome, is found to be permanently and totally disabling for purposes of nonservice-connected pension.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically major depression. The evidence did not support a finding of a chronic in-service psychiatric disability or one that was related to service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings due to conflicting examination findings and additional development is required.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his cervical spine disability and psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's combined rating of 80% for service-connected disabilities is not sufficient to warrant a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no objective indications of fatigue, memory problems, lethargy or irritability and concluded that these symptoms are not due to an undiagnosed illness. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension on account of being in need of aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to perform activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing himself, keeping himself clean and presentable or tending to the wants of nature.

The Board denied service connection for a hearing loss disorder, but granted service connection for a nervous disorder (Major Depression).,There is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or current hearing loss disability. The veteran's psychiatric condition was diagnosed after service and not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, depression, and degenerative disc disease. The decision found that the in-service head injury was not incurred in the line of duty due to alcohol abuse.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for SMP based on the need for A&A or housebound status, finding that he did not meet the criteria for either benefit. The issue of reducing his income for pension purposes was remanded to the RO.