Depression decisions — 2025

The veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and increased ratings for left knee conditions were denied. Claims for right knee condition, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU were remanded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, so he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period before April 1, 2024.

The appeal for service-connection of a psychiatric disorder was dismissed because the VA already granted service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for MDD and GERD was denied. The veteran was granted a higher rating for MDD but not for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder (UDD) caused or aggravated his GERD. The Board granted entitlement to service connection for GERD as secondary to UDD.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher rating and earlier effective dates related to major depressive disorder (MDD). The decision was based on procedural issues and the need for further development.

The Board denied initial ratings greater than 70 percent for unspecified stressor and trauma disorder and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with herbicide exposure, greater than 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy as a residual of stroke, greater than 10 percent for residuals of stroke other than right lower extremity radiculopathy, and greater than 10 percent rating for hypertension. However, the Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for anxiety, arteriosclerotic heart disease with congestive heart failure and implanted cardiac pacemaker, and hypertension as further development is necessary to obtain adequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for major depressive disorder to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for razor bumps and sleep apnea, while remanding the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraine headaches, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include MDD, PTSD, anxiety, and depression, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 15, 2020 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance. The claim for a higher rating for panic disorder was denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 31, 2017 for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

The appeal for increased disability ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeals.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for asthma with episodic bronchitis and a 70 percent evaluation for recurrent moderate major depressive disorder with PTSD, effective April 17, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of various disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and related conditions, as the earliest possible effective date was March 14, 2017, due to a new law that allowed presumptive service connection based on exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD (claimed as anxiety, depression, and insomnia) and tinnitus.

The Board remands the case to schedule an updated VA examination for the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder as there is potential worsening of symptoms since the last examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in the disability occurred within one year prior to February 6, 2023.