Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, and depression due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the August 2021 rating decision.

The Board denied an effective date prior to October 15, 2023, for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder and denied an initial compensable disability rating for tinea versicolor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with mixed features due to another medical condition, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine strain, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, migraine headaches, and depressive disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his current depressive symptoms.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder with moderate anxious distress to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's depressive disorder alone rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and she is entitled to a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes on and from December 19, 2015. Additionally, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC based on statutory housebound criteria for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a rating of 70 percent from July 19, 2013 to December 6, 2021 and a total disability rating of 100 percent from December 7, 2021. The degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression associated with tinnitus, left knee strain, tinnitus, hypertension, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder (UDD) prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as of September 15, 2020.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and depression, as these conditions are not separate from the Veteran's already service-connected PTSD. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted a 30 percent disability rating, but no higher. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions are denied.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and polysubstance use and chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include GAD and depressive disorder, as well as a cervical spine disability, right wrist pain, and left wrist pain. However, the claims for lumbar spine pain were denied.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected persistent depressive disorder effective from November 7, 2022, and denied entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with associated depression, major depressive disorder, polysubstance dependence, cocaine dependence, alcohol dependence, and a history of heroine dependence.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation from 70 percent to a 30 rating for service-connected psychiatric disability and from 10 percent to a 30 rating for service-connected GERD (incorrectly stated as 30% in the decision) were not proper.