Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for chronic urinary tract infections, and a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of July 31, 2020, for the award of service connection for anterior trunk scar and an initial 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder, severe, with anxious distress and panic attacks.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus due to a lack of evidence establishing a nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities was granted.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining complete medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's condition began during active service or was related to any in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, effective May 11, 2021, and granted increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, and anxious distress was granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 25, 2023, but denied a higher rating from that date.

The Board granted the restoration of service connection for major depressive disorder, effective July 1, 2021, as the severance was found to be improper.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is granted an initial disability evaluation of 70 percent, and the effective date for service connection was set to April 30, 2019. The claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected kidney cancer status post right nephrectomy renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the SMC(s) rate.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied an earlier effective date and remanded basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance prior to August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, lumbar spondylosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 12, 2021, for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and alcohol use disorder, but denied a rating in excess of 70 percent from June 20, 2023, for these conditions. The Board also granted an earlier effective date for service connection for superficial pustular cystic acne and acne scarring.

The Board granted an earlier effective date and a higher rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's service-connected MDD, recurrent - severe with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, effective November 2, 2020. The claims for OSA, ED, hypertension, and migraine headaches were remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, and anxious distress was granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 25, 2023, but denied a higher rating from that date.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, TBI, headaches, heart disease, left and right foot disorders, and a higher disability rating for the gunshot wound through-and-through scar residuals -abdomen, with muscle group XIX involvement.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the assigned 100 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability was denied.