Depression decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for any of the issues related to service connection, and the Board is without jurisdiction to review these matters.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, claimed as depression, finding that the condition was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to service and did not begin in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a skin disorder, as well as increased ratings for his left and right wrist disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome, depressive disorder, and hypertension, granted a 10 percent rating for right foot hallux valgus status-post bunionectomy, and denied service connection for cervical spine and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals concerning the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for Hodgkin's lymphoma and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran was not granted an earlier effective date for the 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder or Dependents' Educational Assistance as his claim was not perfected within the required time frame.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, cataracts and depression as secondary to atopic dermatitis due to a need for medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression and bipolar disorder have been found to be more disabling than previously rated, warranting a 70% rating. However, the evidence does not support a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for ureterolithiasis, Asiatic flu, and a sinus condition as not being new and material evidence. The claim for a sinus condition was reopened but ultimately denied. Other claims were also denied.

The claim for an effective date prior to November 2002 for the grant of service connection for a major depressive disorder is denied, as there was no pending claim filed prior to that date. The initial rating of 50% for MDD from November 2002 is also not increased.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The veteran's depression is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected melanoma, but the claims for a large mass of the groin area and increased ratings for residuals of a donor site scar of the right hip and melanoma were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for a depressive disorder is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The evidence does not support a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's depressive disorder, nor does it show that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance as of May 1, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist condition with carpal tunnel syndrome, right inguinal hernia, left knee arthralgia, left-sided numbness, and major depressive disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after service. The claim to reopen the post-traumatic stress disorder claim was granted.