Depression decisions — 2025

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus was denied as there was no evidence that the condition met the criteria for a higher rating prior to August 6, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric condition under DSM-5.

The Board granted readjudication of the claim for any acquired psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for dysmenorrhea since October 13, 2017, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left toe stress fracture. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety, and insomnia was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset during service and were causally related to his active duty.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress, finding the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, depression, and tinnitus due to duty to assist errors prior to the April 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of September 23, 2020 for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder with a TBI and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 subsection (t).

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and panic disorder, both claimed as due to military sexual trauma.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder to correct a duty to assist error and readjudicate on the merits.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for adjustment disorder, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options under the modernized review system.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression and insomnia, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for various knee and hip disabilities were remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD, depressive disorders, and insomnia disorder due to missing service personnel records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar I disorder, alcohol use disorder (mild), and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor with unspecified depressive disorder, but remanded the issues of a higher rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, PTSD, specified personality disorder, and specified depressive disorder secondary to chronic pain, depression, anxiety disorder, mood disorder NOS, and panic disorder without agoraphobia with mild panic attacks.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding no evidence of a psychiatric injury or disease during service and no relationship between the current disability and any injury or disease during service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder characterized by anxiety, panic, and depression but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The left knee disability issue was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for allergic rhinitis and service connection for depression.