Depression Board decisions

The veteran's combined evaluation for his disabilities is 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for major depression, the most severe level of disability under the pre-November 7, 1996 VA General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder with associated depression, diagnosed as PTSD, was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for the veteran's undiagnosed illness, but denied a higher initial rating. The veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating since November 24, 1995.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the severity of her condition and further examination.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for his major depression and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The VA Regional Office (RO) has determined that the original grant of service connection for recurrent depression with a generalized anxiety disorder was erroneous due to incorrect diagnosis, and thus severed this benefit. The veteran's current psychiatric condition is now diagnosed as bipolar disorder.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with depression and headaches secondary to Hodgkin's disease prior to January 19, 1996.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with depression and headaches secondary to Hodgkin's disease prior to January 19, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was secondary to his service-connected back disability and denied TDIU benefits due to lack of evidence showing material improvement in employment capacity. The decision is now considered clearly erroneous.

The Board finds that the veteran was insane during service and at the time he committed misconduct, thus his discharge is not a bar to VA benefits for the period from April 9, 1983 to April 6, 1984.

The veteran's hepatic failure, status post liver transplant, is manifested by continuous heartburn, constant gastrointestinal irritation, constant fatigue, and depression. The Board finds a 100 percent schedular evaluation to be warranted based on the evidence of recurrent disabling episodes of several weeks duration, aggregating to three or more times a year, accompanied by disabling symptoms requiring rest therapy.

The Board granted an effective date of December 16, 1988 for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. The RO also granted a 30 percent rating for this condition as of May 23, 1989.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding it not plausible. The claim for a compensable rating for duodenal ulcer was granted but at the lowest possible evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding no current disability and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current major depression to an incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, to include mental behavior with depression, and any such disorder does not have a nexus or relationship to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the extent of his service-connected PTSD and any other acquired psychiatric disorder present. The issue of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD will also be addressed.

The Board found the veteran's claim not well grounded as there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability during service and no nexus between current conditions and service.