Depression decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for depression, finding the evidence to be at least in approximate balance as to whether it had its onset during active service.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and bruxism (MDD) from February 28, 2024, but not earlier.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of January 31, 2019, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), but his claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected OSA, restored a 60 percent rating for asthma with obstructive sleep apnea, and granted a 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome during the period on appeal from September 17, 2023, to October 11, 2024. The Board denied a higher rating for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, a 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 9, 2019. It also granted an effective date of June 4, 2020, but no earlier, for the assignment of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which include rheumatoid arthritis affecting multiple joints and other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or a grant of service connection.

The Board granted an effective date of September 21, 2022, for the Veteran's 100 percent rating for major depressive disorder (MDD), 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 30 percent rating for a right shoulder disability.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for major depressive disorder due to a need for an additional examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation (SMC) for more than one loss of use of a single creative organ. The Board remanded the claims for service connection for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder with periodic anxious cognition and mood, and alcohol use disorder, unspecified, but no higher.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression with anxious distress features, as the persuasive weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than chronic adjustment disorder, with anxiety and depression, left leg disability (claimed as nerve damage), right leg disability (claimed as nerve damage), and chronic headache disorder (claimed as migraines) to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include GAD and MDD, from August 28, 2017, to June 9, 2024.

The appeal for service connection for depressive disorder was dismissed as the benefits sought on appeal have been granted in full.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, finding a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board granted increased compensable evaluations for the Veteran's status post left ankle sprain, status post right ankle sprain, and medial epicondylitis of the left elbow. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board denied the motion for revision of the August 14, 2017, Rating Decision that denied service connection for unspecified depressive disorder due to a lack of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted an effective date of December 20, 2007 for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and increased ratings to 70% from March 27, 2020 to June 5, 2020, and 100% from June 5, 2020. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied.