Depression decisions — 2025

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board dismissed the claims for an initial compensable rating for irritable bowel syndrome, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, mental health disorder, right hand burn scars, and tinnitus as the AOJ did not readjudicate these issues in the May 2024 rating decision. The claim for service connection for cervical strain was denied due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, migraine headache disorder, tinnitus, cervical strain, right hand finger disorders, left hand arthritis, and right knee strain, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction was dismissed as the claim had been granted in a previous rating decision. The appeals for increased ratings of the psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, while the evaluation greater than 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. Several claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and remanded claims for alcohol use, generalized anxiety disorder, and persistent depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, borderline personality disorder, alcohol and opioid abuse disorder, depression, and anxiety due to military sexual trauma.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and insomnia, effective November 16, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance was not due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound for accrued benefits is denied.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, migraine including migraine variants, near-syncope (claimed as vasovagal syncope), thoracolumbar strain (claimed as musculoskeletal mid/lower back thoracolumbar spine), and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining a VA examination.

The appeal concerning service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, is dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the appeal was pending.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, bilateral tinnitus, generalized anxiety disorder (to include depressive disorder due to medical condition), and left foot tinea pedis. The Board also granted a 20 percent evaluation for the left shoulder strain but denied service connection for right lateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of colon rectal cancer and depression, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer and tinnitus.

The Board granted an effective date of March 30, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for depressive disorder with major depressive-like episode.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depression (GAD), and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The claims for service connection for chronic left knee pain, chronic right knee pain, low back pain, neurogenic erectile dysfunction, onychomycosis, and pain and dysfunction of the right shoulder were remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees from benefits resulting from the March 2024 grant of past-due benefits.

The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board denied an effective date prior to January 26, 2012 for the award of service connection for a depressive disorder.