Depression decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected right orchiectomy. His hearing loss, COPD, left wrist fracture residuals, scar from cyst removal, allergic rhinitis, and rhinoplasty/septoplasty are all rated at the lowest possible level (0%) due to their current severity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to ambiguity regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, as well as the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right ulnar nerve damage.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right wrist disorder. The appeals on cervical spine, left shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to her service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis is not related to his service-connected facial injury with residual tripod fracture of the left maxilla and zygoma depression. The Veteran's facial injury does not result in a compensable rating as it causes only occasional pain and difficulty chewing, which are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and found that the Veteran does not have PTSD. The remaining claims to service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right chronic Achilles tendonitis, cervical spine disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression), migraine headaches, radiculopathy, and thoracic outlet syndrome was granted with an effective date of September 28, 2009.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and/or PTSD), have not been found to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder without agoraphobia, is at least as likely as not related to his service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions developed in response to his series of traumatic experiences while in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and providing new examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is related to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Fort Sill military facility and VA clinics.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's refractive depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 26, 2009. The rating reflects significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression due to military sexual trauma and service-connected disabilities, but denied the requests for higher evaluations for right ankle strain and abdominal scar.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantial gainful employment from August 2006 to August 2007 due to service-connected disabilities, but has been able to obtain and maintain substantially gainful occupation since then.