Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities including diabetes and end stage renal disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD and insomnia, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his service or any in-service event.

The Board granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the period before May 21, 2025.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, lumbosacral strain, right elbow burn scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low testosterone, and left knee disability. However, service connection was granted for TBI, left forehead scar, and left arm scars.

The Board grants service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse disorder, as it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,The Board grants service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff condition, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff condition, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for vertigo, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for left ankle arthritis, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for right ankle arthritis, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board denies service connection for status post right bicep tear, as it is not related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board denies service connection for a left arm disorder, diagnosed as left bicep pain, as it is not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for anxiety disorder associated with depressive disorder, effective from June 24, 2023.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and migraines, granted service connection for migraines with an effective date of October 12, 2014, but remanded claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for depression and remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left sciatic radicular pain, and right sciatic radicular pain. The claim for tinnitus was denied.

The Board granted a disability rating of 100 percent for the service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the Veteran's symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, as a pre-decisional duty to assist error was not adequately addressed.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for various conditions, as these issues were deferred by the AOJ and not yet final.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety (claimed as PTSD) and depression due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded claims for hypertension and insomnia due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 50 percent and 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, trauma and stressor related disorder, personality disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.

The Board granted eligibility for the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an April 2024 Rating Decision.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right shoulder disability (recurrent dislocation), insomnia, major depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, it granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder with mild anxious distress and mild pure dysthymic syndrome, effective April 21, 2021.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating prior to July 29, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for anxiety and depression to obtain a medical opinion addressing their etiology in relation to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an increased initial 70 percent rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU), and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).