Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic anxiety, major depression, and dysthymia.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C with depression prior to April 30, 1996 and a rating in excess of 30 percent as of and subsequent to April 30, 1996.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD with secondary bipolar disorder and depression, as well as the issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance and TDIU.,No specific rating was assigned in this decision.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected major depression is not rated higher than 30 percent prior to September 19, 1999 and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent since that date.

The veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for major depression was dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during or within one year after service, and concluded that the veteran's current anxiety and depression did not begin in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for major depression, which he claims was incurred during his active duty service in Vietnam. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for dysthymia with episodes of major depression and insomnia, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9433.

The veteran's combined nonservice-connected disability rating is 80%, and he does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, undress, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, and protect himself from daily hazards without assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression with psychosis and a schizoid personality. The evidence submitted includes VA records of schizophrenia in October 1974 and a February 2001 opinion from a VA psychologist linking the current psychiatric disorders to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, effective December 3, 1997. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date based on his original claim filed in September 13, 1982.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and nonservice-connected pension due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment, thus denying special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient information in previous examinations.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and hypochondriasis) does not render him unemployable due to his age and other nonservice-connected health issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his reported stressors and obtain a more definitive medical opinion regarding the connection between his diagnosed psychiatric disabilities and service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection, but denied the underlying issue of whether a psychiatric disorder was incurred in or aggravated by military service.