Depression decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and alcohol use disorder, mild, in partial sustained remission. The heart and hypertension issues were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings, but granted a 70% initial rating for depressive disorder from January 22, 2021 to August 26, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied initial ratings above the assigned levels for various service-connected conditions, except for a 50 percent rating for tension headaches.

The appeal for service connection for depression, anxiety, migraine headaches, and a right knee condition was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 27, 2022 for the award of service connection for depressive disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, sleep disorder/insomnia, and sleep apnea.

The Board grants service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current depression is related to his experiences in service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder, for further development of evidence.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder. It also granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder from May 1, 2023, and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or symptoms related to such conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and isolation as secondary to hearing loss was denied. However, the Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss effective September 1, 2022.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder (MDD) was granted a rating of 70 percent from November 19, 2008, but an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The Veteran also received an effective date of November 19, 2008, for TDIU and DEA.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include persistent depressive disorder, unspecified persistent mood disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, but denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and lateral collateral ligament sprain with instability, left ankle.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including those related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, as well as remanded the claim for service connection for depression.

The Board denied the claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent and TDIU prior to March 26, 2024, as the Veteran's symptoms did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, as well as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and denied the claims for visual impairment, migraine headaches, a back disability, and a bilateral foot disability.