Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression was incurred during his active duty for training and granted service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and low back disability are not productive of a level of impairment that warrants an increased rating or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35, finding that there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed depression did not begin during service or for many years thereafter and is not causally linked to any incident of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, chondromalacia of the right knee, left shoulder disability, and headaches have all been denied. The evidence submitted since the last final denial does not provide new or material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's depression was not caused or worsened by her service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The VA has denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's depressive disorder with bulimia nervosa, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the August 1977 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for anxiety and depression.

The veteran's major depression, panic disorder, and psychotic disorder are related to service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation beyond 50 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depression and dysthymia has caused her to be unable to obtain or retain employment throughout the duration of her appeal, leading to a 100% disability rating.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a total rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive episodes with psychotic features, recurrent and schizoaffective disorder and PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA did not find sufficient evidence to support a presumption of service connection based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other conditions.

The Board has determined that an effective date of December 5, 1988, is warranted for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's current psychiatric condition, along with his other disabilities, does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as secondary to his service-connected traumatic subluxation of the right shoulder with limitation of motion. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental condition related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's alcohol and polysubstance abuse/dependency, dysthymic disorder with depression, and anxiety disorder (other than social phobia) did not originate during active service or were not caused by his service-connected social phobia.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's depressive disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and major depression may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of heat injury with recurrent episodes of altered consciousness, anxiety and PTSD warrant a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's depression was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a mild concussion with headaches, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.