Depression Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected major depression with anxiety and panic attacks is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination, as there are no recent treatment records available.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not provide a new and material basis to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's combined nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied service connection for depression and did not reopen the claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's claim for depression was found to be well-grounded, but there is no competent medical evidence linking his current diagnosis of depression to his active service.

The VA has determined that the appellant's psychiatric symptoms, while significant, are primarily due to his substance abuse and do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or depression related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a heart condition secondary to PTSD and assigned a 60% evaluation effective from July 11, 1991. The veteran's claim of TDIU was also granted with an effective date of July 11, 1991.

The Board has denied all claims for increased evaluations, finding that the veteran's conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current evidence of record.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's symptoms are better explained by Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder. The claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that new evidence submitted since the January 1996 rating decision did not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, including major depression. The issue of PTSD was reopened based on new evidence, but the Board concluded that the current diagnosis of PTSD is based on unsubstantiated reports of a stressor provided by the veteran.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychoneurotic disability, to include major depression. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent evidence of a current psychiatric disability in service or a relationship between a current psychiatric disability and service.

The veteran's coronary artery disease with hypertension, status post coronary artery bypass graft, is currently rated at 60 percent disabling. His major depressive disorder is rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of stress fractures of the ankles, major depressive disorder, and reopening a claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to July 7, 2000 for assignment of a 100 percent rating for the veteran's depressive disorder with psychotic features. The earliest ascertainable increase in disability occurred after the claim was received on July 7, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and for increased evaluations of his gunshot wound disabilities. The veteran was not granted a higher evaluation for his left anterior chest disability prior to July 9, 1980, or for his right anterior chest disability. He also did not receive a compensable evaluation for his nonossifying fibromas.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depression is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current diagnosis of depression is related to his period of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's variously diagnosed neurosis, including PTSD, developed during their first period of service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's inpatient hospital care at Louisville was provided for his service-connected major depression and meets the criteria for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized medical care.