Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU, and remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder (GAD) is shown to preclude the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and education background from November 1, 2012.

The Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's service-connected recurrent major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and dismissed the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to this condition. The Veteran was also granted basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is granted a 100 percent rating from June 28, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance/alcohol use disorders, due to inadequate VA examination and missing Vet Center records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for neurobehavioral effects and unspecified depressive disorder, to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting CUE in previous decisions.

The Board denied the motion to revise or reverse on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) a September 13, 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, and insomnia disorder effective from March 1, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder based on new evidence.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease, all secondary to diabetes mellitus. A 30 percent initial rating was granted for stasis dermatitis.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety and depression, finding it is at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due solely to his service-connected major depressive disorder (MDD) for the period from February 19, 2019 onward and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from February 19, 2019 to September 4, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a low back disability but denied the claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension and distal lateral surgical scar of the right long finger, depression, bilateral hearing loss, and a right elbow disability. The Veteran was also granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, alcohol use disorder, unspecified cannabis use disorder, and stimulant use disorder but denied an increased rating for right ankle fracture residuals and osteoarthritis. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and migraines were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for somatic symptom disorder with anxiety and depression, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis during the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for deep vein thrombosis, hyperlipidemia, vitamin D deficiency, pre-diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be compensable, and the ratings for his depressive disorder and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board's September 4, 2025 decision was vacated due to a failure to address clear and unmistakable error arguments, depriving the Veteran of due process.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to military sexual trauma and major depressive disorder, is dismissed without prejudice due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the proper effective date is February 13, 2023.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability and denied claims for secondary service connection for major depressive disorder and a back condition.