Depression Board decisions

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.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of more than 30 percent for his service-connected major depressive disorder has been granted, with a current rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the AOJ for appropriate development, including referral of the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination, including obtaining records related to the Veteran's 1979 divorce proceedings and scheduling a mental disorders examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled Travel Board hearing and for the need to schedule another hearing. The claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and low back disorder as well as the claim for special monthly compensation are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature and likely etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran contends that he has PTSD or another psychiatric disorder as a result of his Navy service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and retrieval of additional medical records.