Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to August 19, 2022, for service connection of depression with anxious distress because the supplemental claim was not filed within one year of the prior denial and good cause for the delay was not shown.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for service-connected unspecified anxiety and depressive disorder. The evidence did not show a diagnosed psychiatric disability until December 16, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to his service-connected conditions, with obesity as an intermediate step, is granted.

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and PTSD, is remanded. The Board needs to verify in-service stressors and conduct a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran was granted a 50% rating for dysthymia from August 20, 2007, to January 2, 2013, and a 100% rating for major depressive disorder starting January 3, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to January 3, 2013, was denied.

The Board remanded all issues to the AOJ for further evaluation, including obtaining adequate medical opinions on the secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to March 16, 2022, for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The earliest claim for TDIU was received on March 16, 2022, and there was no pending claim for an increased rating as of that date.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD and depression was granted. However, higher ratings for PTSD, left ankle subluxing peroneal tendon, and temporary total rating for right ankle were denied. Some issues were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to diabetes and an increased rating for diabetes was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment as of February 27, 2010.

The veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension as secondary to his service-connected Dercum's disease has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service connected Dercum's disease with obesity as an intermediate step.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 80 percent for kidney transplant residuals and temporary total evaluations for hospitalization due to kidney transplant residuals. The veteran was also granted ratings for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and TDIU. However, the veteran was denied a higher rating for dementia with depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of major depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The Veteran's case will be reviewed again with additional evidence considered.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of the veteran's conditions but remanded some issues for further evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection of migraine headaches has been granted. The decision is based on the relationship between the veteran's migraine headaches and their already service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with insomnia disorder.

The veteran was granted a 70% disability rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU effective November 18, 2022.

The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disorders, including somatic symptom disorder, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, as secondary to service-connected disabilities, has been granted.

Service connection for depressive disorder with major depressive-like episode due to chronic pain syndrome is granted.

The appeal to decrease the evaluation of unspecified depressive disorder with mild alcohol use disorder from 70% to 50% was dismissed because it was premature.

The Board remanded the veteran's claim for service connection of psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression. The Board found that previous VA examinations were inadequate and ordered a new examination.