Depression decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and TDIU due to a need for additional development, specifically scheduling VA examinations.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, GERD, and anxiety and depression due to exposure to toxins during service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and assigned a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the service-connected MDD. Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate was also granted effective October 21, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as more information is needed regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and a VA examination.

The Board remanded the case for the RO to determine whether service personnel records received in March and April 1997 were newly added and relevant, and if so, whether reconsideration of the October 1996 claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c). The CUE motion is premature and will be addressed after the reconsideration determination is made.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, insomnia and sleep apnea as a new VA examination is necessary to assist in determining the nature and etiology of these claimed conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder from May 8, 2013, but denied an earlier effective date than that date.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than insomnia disorder, to include anxiety or depression, but granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected insomnia disorder.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder and an effective date prior to March 7, 2022, for the 70 percent rating currently assigned.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and a right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's service-connected liver conditions. The claim of entitlement to readjudication based on new and relevant evidence was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for depression, finding that the Veteran's depression was caused by events during service and had its onset during active service.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, anxiety and depression, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain degenerative arthritis of C4/5.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for a sleep disability due to lack of legal entitlement.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for the 40 percent and 70 percent ratings of lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress, respectively.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for chronic bronchitis, service connection for tension headaches (claimed as migraines), and service connection for anxiety and depression due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 70 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with anxious distress and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as the claims for service connection for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy, left and right eyes, and cervicogenic headaches, for further development.