Depression decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (MDD) from January 13, 2020 to July 18, 2021, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due exclusively to service-connected MDD effective October 13, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, psychiatric disability (depression), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sesamoiditis, left foot.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, as the weight of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder began during or is otherwise related to active service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 100 percent evaluation of MDD, moderate, recurrent with anxious distress.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder due to known physiological condition, with major depressive-like episodes, and also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to this condition. Additionally, TDIU was granted.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, for a new medical examination and opinion.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) was denied as there is no evidence to support an earlier date than December 9, 2011.

The appeal for an increased rating for depression has been withdrawn by the Veteran and is therefore dismissed.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and MDD with alcohol use disorder, found the separate rating assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy to be proper, and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease and lower back strain.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD and major depressive disorder, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for headache disorder.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the symptomology more closely resembled occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied increased ratings for existing disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in severity.

The Board granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder, persistent insomnia disorder, and a recurrent headache disability to include migraine.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress and insomnia disorder.

The appeal for an earlier effective date and initial disability rating was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's entire mental health condition, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder due to tinnitus with generalized anxiety disorder, has been service-connected at 100 percent effective August 21, 2020.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety and depression, due to military sexual trauma for a new VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied service connection for sleep disturbances.