Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, xerotic eczema and dyschromia, constipation, and a respiratory disorder. The appeals were based on new evidence that reopened previously denied claims.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder was productive of definite impairment in social and industrial adaptability prior to January 3, 1997. From January 3, 1997 to March 5, 1998, the disorder resulted in considerable occupational and social impairment with intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. After March 6, 1998, the disorder caused severe impairment in work and social relationships.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for depression, finding that the veteran's current left knee pain is related to his military service, but not finding any link between his current depression and his service-connected condition.

The veteran's schizoaffective disorder is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 100 percent, reflecting total impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychosis, schizophrenia, major depression, or PTSD, is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not causally related to treatment received during his terminal period of hospitalization at the Dallas VAMC.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of head injury with tinnitus, migraines, depression, and memory loss, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hiatal hernia and remanded it to the RO for additional development. The claims for major depression, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, headaches, memory loss, brain hemorrhage, fatigue, and body muscle pain are all pending.

The veteran was hospitalized for treatment of major depression and substance abuse, which are not service-connected. The hospitalization did not meet the requirement for a temporary total rating based on a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has major depression, which developed as a result of his active service. The claim for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's diagnosed personality disorders and major depression were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, and therefore denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's heart disease to any incident or condition during active military service.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service stressor and concluded that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's depressive disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, based on her symptoms and their impact on her occupational functioning.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his cause of death, which was due to myocardial infarction and metastatic carcinoma and COPD. The Board concluded that there is no medical relationship between such disabilities and the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his major depressive disorder was granted, and the effective date for service connection was set at January 14, 1991.

The veteran's service-connected left brachial plexitis warrants a 60% evaluation as of October 22, 1992.,Major depression is rated at 50% effective February 23, 2001. The veteran previously received a 30% rating from May 13, 1993.,The veteran's muscle contracture headaches are not compensable prior to May 2, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, insomnia, and personality disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his military service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the veteran's depressive disorder does not warrant an evaluation greater than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new schedular criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's major depression and symptoms of depression, poor appetite, sleep disturbance, memory loss, and poor concentration were not related to service. The claim for weight loss as a disability due to undiagnosed illness was also denied.