Depression decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's heart disability, hypothyroidism, and skeletal arthritis of entire joint system. The lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were remanded for further development.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions and increased ratings for service-connected disabilities is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, general anxiety disorder, and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, but denied service connection for allergic rhinitis. The Board also granted a 20 percent initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from September 19, 2024, and denied higher ratings for tension headaches.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for tension and cluster headaches, a rating of 50 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity effective May 7, 2024, and denied higher ratings for CTS and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and anxiety or depression as the evidence did not support a current disability, nor was an in-service event, disease, or injury shown.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right middle and ring finger disabilities, hypertension from August 10, 2022, and depression NOS and mood disorder. However, an earlier effective date was granted for service connection of hypertension on December 26, 2018, and a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and opiate use disorder, but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for partial prostatectomy scars and remanded the claims for service connection, increased rating for MDD, and TDIU due to duty to assist errors.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance but denied for housebound status.

The Veteran's initial rating for persistent depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder was granted at 100 percent, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed as moot.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion to address the nature and etiology of the claimed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with social anxiety, major depressive disorder, GERD, and bruxism based on their onset during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition but denied service connection for right knee and right big toe conditions, as well as an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date, initial rating of 100 percent, permanent and total disability rating, and SMC based on aid and attendance were granted.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury and mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorders worsened beyond their normal progression due to military stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for unspecified anxiety disorder and remanded claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and back conditions.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dismissed the claim for a thoracic spine disability, and granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain and meniscal tear, left hip strain as secondary to a service-connected thoracolumbar lumbar spine disorder, and a generalized anxiety disorder and other specified depressive disorder.