Depression Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for low back disability due to lack of a timely substantive appeal. The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, depression, arthritis of the hips, and loss of bladder control are denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Claims for new and material evidence regarding left knee disorder, cardiovascular disability (manifested by hypertension with chest pain and syncope), and PTSD were also denied due to lack of new or significant evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted effective July 28, 1989. He is currently rated at 50 percent for his generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to incidents of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy involving all extremities, osteoarthritis involving all joints, residuals of multiple back surgeries for degenerative disc disease, residuals of right shoulder surgery, residuals of left ankle surgery, stroke, lipoma of the left side, and depression, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct connection to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder. The evidence indicates that his current disability from a neuropsychiatric disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, rib disorder, and depression. The RO also declined to find that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left leg disorder.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability evaluation for service-connected depression was granted, but her claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability evaluation was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a nervous disorder and PTSD, finding that new evidence did not constitute material to reopen her claim. The Board also determined that her PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety neurosis and depression, is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board has now granted a higher rating to 70 percent.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 1999 for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability was granted. The condition in question is major depressive disorder with dysthymia, and it was determined to be a direct service connection without any presumption or reopening based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for dysthymia and/or depression in August 1997, finding the claim not well-grounded due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to service. The moving party's representative argued that this decision was erroneous because there is a clear link between her service-related depression and her current condition.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current psychiatric disabilities to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further adjudication on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including alcoholism and a psychiatric disorder. The skin rash, optic atrophy of the left eye with vision loss and diplopia, pansinusitis with nasal polyps, traumatic nasal septal deviation, damage to the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, seizure disorder, headaches, chronic prostatitis, prostate and urinary infections, urinary tract blockage and non-specific urethritis, epididymal cyst of the right testis, and venereal disease were not found to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that it was factually ascertainable that the appellant's service-connected psychiatric disability resulted in total impairment as of July 28, 1998. Therefore, an effective date of July 28, 1998 is granted for a total schedular evaluation for major depression.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased rating, service connection for hypertension and stomach disability secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder) secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain, and a total rating based on individual unemployability. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's disabilities, while rated as 90 percent combined, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 4, 1992 for the grant of service connection for dysthymia with intermittent major depression.