Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran has chronic fatigue syndrome attributable to active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for memory loss, lack of concentration, elevated temperature, and depression due to undiagnosed illness is not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), increased rating for hemorrhoids, and increased rating for hepatitis have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for hepatitis from October 11, 1997 onwards.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability and depression are not well-grounded, and thus denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability is not well grounded. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for major depressive disorder prior to July 17, 1998 was denied and the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with PTSD subsequent to July 17, 1998 is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including mixed neurosis, is not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for PTSD and a higher disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show PTSD symptoms warranting a 50% rating before January 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 13, 1994 for the grant of service connection and a rating in excess of 30 percent for his conversion disorder with multiple somatic complaints and depression. The claim is legally insufficient as it lacks legal merit.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression continues to be totally disabling, warranting a restoration of a 100 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar disc disease and major depression, finding that the current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's depression is not related to service, but his memory loss claim was not well-grounded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder that was incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing to be scheduled at the Atlanta, Georgia, RO or the Montgomery, Alabama RO.

The veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to her service-connected disabilities and new claims. The Board has ordered further development of the record, including obtaining examination reports and private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression and dysthymia, finding that the veteran's psychiatric disability was incurred during his active military service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for infectious mononucleosis is denied as there are no current symptoms attributable to this condition.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and chronic low back pain, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including damage to the reproductive system, ulcer, numbness in the hands, headaches, depression, skin rash, lumps on the arms, trouble sleeping, hypertension, nervous tension, and peripheral neuropathy, are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, particularly as related to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of LSD testing. The veteran's claims are based on his belief that he developed various disabilities as a result of an in-service experiment involving LSD.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current ulcer disorder, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disorders to his service. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that they were not well-grounded due to a lack of evidence supporting their diagnosis or causation.