Depression decisions — 2009

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip arthritis, nerve damage/carpal tunnel syndrome, and an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction were denied.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, dysphagia/swallowing problems, depression, and sexual dysfunction as not being related to the veteran's active military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, an increased rating for sinusitis, and an initial increased rating for gastritis were denied as the evidence did not support the veteran's assertions.

The veteran's back disorder was not related to service, and the depressive disorder did not meet criteria for a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for undefined seizures and major depressive disorder as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The veteran was granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, depression with panic attacks, and assigned an initial 10 percent rating. The claims for PTSD, hypertension, dizziness, skin rash, and lumbar myositis were denied.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and providing VCAA notice.

The Board finds that service connection for a rotator cuff tear and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder is warranted, but not for major depressive disorder or arthritis.

The veteran's major depressive disorder has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent inability to perform occupational tasks, but the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, the residuals of a fall, and for COPD, ulcers, arthritis, hepatitis C, depression, and schizoaffective disorder as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The veteran was granted a 30% initial disability rating for dysthymic disorder, and the claims for an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation on account of loss of use of a creative organ were denied.

The veteran's depressive disorder, NOS, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings accurately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected residuals of a left knee injury with traumatic arthritis was denied, but new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. Service connection was granted for DJD of the cervical spine and mixed posttraumatic/migraine headaches.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claim.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depression, as April 9, 2004 was determined to be the correct date based on the initial record of the veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, and to reopen the claims for major depressive disorder and an eating disorder are remanded for further development.

The veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for his major depressive disorder as of March 26, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, as the claimed in-service stressors could not be verified. The veteran was also denied an extension of a temporary total rating beyond May 31, 2001.