Depression decisions — 2025

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain and major depressive episodes, effective May 6, 2021. The right ankle debridement of arthritis, post traumatic, was denied a higher rating, while service connection was granted for right knee pain but denied for low back pain and radiculopathy in the lower right extremity.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disability but denied service connection for depression, hypertension, and diabetes.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tear repair and hemiarthroplasty, denied an initial compensable rating for his left shoulder surgical scars, and granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, as no reduction had occurred. The reductions in ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathies were proper, and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied.

The appeal was denied for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, with some issues remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depression, as the evidence did not support that there were credible in-service stressors or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The appeal for service connection for depression, rheumatoid arthritis of the left upper extremity, and rheumatoid arthritis of the right upper extremity was dismissed due to oral withdrawal by the Veteran. An initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were granted.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and depression (secondary to a service-connected TBI) but denied service connection for left ankle strain, right shoulder strain, rhinitis, and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board restored the 60 percent evaluation for prostate cancer residuals, effective December 23, 2020, as the reduction was improper.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from September 13, 1979, to July 29, 2008, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to obtain additional evidence and a more thorough medical opinion.

The Board granted the appeal to reinstate a 60 percent disability rating for gastroesophageal reflux disorder, residuals status post Nissen fundoplication to include gastric ulcer/paresophageal hernia (GERD), effective November 1, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) and denied an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted service connection for LLE and RLE neuropathy of the peroneal nerve, effective May 25, 2016, and a TDIU from May 25, 2016. It also granted DEA benefits and SMC based on loss of use of both feet from July 28, 2020.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the service connection claim for further development.

The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, finding that it resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.