Depression decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to missing records from the Shreveport VAMC.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for bipolar disorder with anxious distress and depression, as well as chondromalacia patella (claimed as right leg stress fracture), due to pre-decisional errors and a lack of proper notice for VA examinations.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of March 3, 2021, for the evaluation of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic attacks.

The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, effective January 22, 2024.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for anxiety with depression and insomnia from October 9, 2023, but denied a compensable rating for migraines prior to November 9, 2023. A 50 percent rating was also granted for migraines from November 9, 2023, to December 18, 2023, and the claim for a compensable rating for migraine from December 19, 2023, was denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for depression, restored the rating of 40% for degenerative disc disease of the spine, and granted a 30% rating for dyspepsia and unspecified abdominal pain from March 1, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD with anxiety and depression, but denied service connection for a heart disorder. All other claims were dismissed or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than depression, anxiety, and insomnia disorders, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI and depression is granted a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding it to be proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected generalized headaches and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's participation in a specific operation and the nature of any vaccines or inoculations he received.

The Board denied an effective date prior to August 2, 2018, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee disorder. However, it granted an effective date of February 24, 2018, but no earlier, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for the right knee disorder.

The Board denied the increased rating claims for post-concussion syndrome with unspecified depressive disorder, disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The appeal was remanded to consider SMC based on a TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported history and lack of supporting evidence.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to obtain a VA examination and determine if the Veteran's condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left femur neck fracture conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 2022, for his generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation, as these were granted under the PACT Act on August 10, 2022.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including persistent depressive disorder, bilateral metatarsalgia with chronic plantar fasciitis, tension headaches, tinnitus, right and left talonavicular joint arthritis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, depression, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, low back disorder, bilateral foot condition, and right shoulder condition as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, with psychotic features and anxious distress, is granted a 100 percent rating effective February 22, 2021. The appeal for service connection for a heart condition and TDIU is remanded.