Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for depression, a lumbar spine condition, and a cervical spine condition. The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder and tinnitus were also denied. Additionally, the Board denied ratings in excess of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder, service connection for vitamin D deficiency, and increased ratings for various knee conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and increased the disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to 70 percent. The claims for major depression, anxiety condition, and other increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression based on the most probative evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence gathering, including obtaining complete Social Security Administration records.

The appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the Veteran's psychiatric disability rating from 70 percent to 30 percent was dismissed because it is not a final decision on which an appeal may be initiated.

The appeal with respect to service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran being fully compensated for all of his psychiatric symptoms through a grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and simple phobia.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, panic disorder, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxious distress, effective February 18, 2022, and granted a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability from March 6, 2017 to June 4, 2018, and again from July 27, 2021 to May 5, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include depression and anxiety, finding that it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxious distress as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, as the prior VA examinations are found inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychological disabilities and physical injuries, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.

The Board granted the petition to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied the claim itself.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to November 17, 2018, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with mild alcohol use disorder.

The Board remands the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of CUE in April 1996 and September 2014 RO rating decisions that denied service connection for major depressive disorder, as well as a revision of the January 2020 RO rating decision that granted service connection on the grounds of CUE.

The Board granted an effective date of December 20, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and intermittent depressive episodes, and panic disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct a pre-duty to assist error, as new and relevant evidence was received after the May 2024 denial.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, as there is no evidence of an in-service event or occurrence related to the condition. The claim was remanded for further development regarding a left ankle condition and hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for other specified depressive disorder as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected left hand finger fracture.

The Board denied service connection for depression and PTSD, but remanded the claims for right leg amputation and stroke due to missing records.