Depression Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not well-grounded. The claim for secondary service connection for major depression as secondary to ulcer disease is well-grounded. The veteran's current evaluation for his ulcer disease remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension benefits due to her income exceeding the statutory limit, and also denied her claim based on unemployability due to her disabilities. The case is remanded for a statement of the case regarding these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, but denied service connection for depression and a low back disorder secondary to the veteran's right knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, claimed as depression and anxiety, is not well-grounded because his assertion of having an acquired psychiatric disability related to service is not supported by medical evidence sufficient to render the claim plausible.

The Board determined that the veteran's dysthymia and right ear hearing loss do not warrant increased ratings as they are currently rated, with no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability requiring extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder and found it to be well-grounded. The veteran is now entitled to a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disability is related to an acquired in-service psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have been granted. The veteran is now entitled to service connection for headaches, depression, pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension, and a gastrointestinal disorder secondary to medication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, arthritis, and depression as secondary to his service-connected bilateral postoperative hammertoes are not well grounded. The Board also found that the veteran's claim for service connection for depression is well grounded but denied it due to lack of causation.

The Board has restored the veteran's 50% rating for his service-connected major depression, effective February 1, 1985.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue and depression due to an undiagnosed illness was denied as not well grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for cause of death and eligibility for DEA benefits due to a lack of well-grounded evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied in October 1995, and she did not appeal the decision. In June 1997, she submitted copies of her service medical records to reopen her claim, but the RO did not prepare a rating decision as there was no jurisdiction due to the finality of the previous denial.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with depression, but denied the claim for evaluation of bilateral hearing loss and did not address the reopening of the Meniere's disease claim.

The veteran's major depression is due to disease or injury which was incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection for major depression is warranted. The RO should review the remaining claims of service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, tinnitus, and disability due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation.

The Board found no additional disability resulting from the VA treatment in February 1995, and thus denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression as secondary to a service-connected back disability due to lack of medical evidence connecting the current dysthymia to his service-connected back disability.

The veteran's claims for a higher evaluation and an earlier effective date were granted, while the claim of service connection for major depression was found to be well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the veteran's pre-existing obsessive compulsive disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service and that none of his other diagnosed psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's disability from major depression, rated at 50 percent disabling, is found to meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as of September 16, 1997.