Depression Board decisions

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's psychiatric disorder to his military service, and thus denied the claim of service connection for a major depressive episode.

The veteran is granted service connection for major depression/dysthymic disorder effective from June 25, 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder due to chemical exposure in service, finding that there was no evidence of such exposure and thus no link between the current disability and service.

The veteran's service-connected major depression is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of more than considerable impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for retropatellar arthralgia of the right knee, lumbosacral strain, and major depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, low back disability, epididymitis, prostatitis, and ulcers are not well-grounded as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (chronic dermatitis and depression) prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The appeal regarding the denial of service connection for depression is not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various undiagnosed illnesses are granted. PTSD was also found to be incurred in service.

The Board found the veteran's claim well grounded and granted service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for major depression, effective from June 4, 1991. The decision did not address the chest pain claim or the total rating due to individual unemployability.

The veteran's spouse, the appellant, is seeking an increased apportionment of the veteran's VA benefits due to financial hardship. The Board has determined that a $600 monthly apportionment on behalf of the appellant is warranted and granted.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment based on his educational attainment and occupational experience.

The initial rating for PTSD prior to November 7, 1996 was granted at 30 percent. The ratings from November 7, 1996 to September 8, 1998 were also granted at 30 percent. As of September 8, 1998, the rating for PTSD was increased to 100 percent.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits on account of being housebound is denied because he does not have a single disability rated or ratable at 100 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for major depression and PTSD.

The Board finds that the veteran's anxiety and depression developed during his active service, resolving in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbosacral strain and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression are not supported by the evidence, as the current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his non-service connected conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression, has been established. As a result, he is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate.