The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms, while present, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, residuals of a total abdominal hysterectomy with history of right distal salpingectomy and dysfunctional uterine bleeding and anemia, varicose veins of the left leg, varicose veins of the right leg, costochondritis, abdominal laparotomy scars, tension/vascular headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0900831
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has costochondritis or muscle pain in the chest that is related to his service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
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