Depression decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) related to military sexual trauma experienced during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for persistent depressive disorder, to include worry and anxiety and polysubstance abuse, was dismissed as it constituted a freestanding effective date claim. The motion to revise based on CUE was also dismissed without prejudice.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for MDD with GAD from December 8, 2021, to March 9, 2022, and denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD with depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety prior to May 21, 2020, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the service-connected psychiatric disorder alone.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury has been in effect since April 19, 2019.

The appeal for a higher disability rating for persistent depressive disorder with sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder was dismissed due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and other related claims, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, arthrosclerosis (claimed as a heart condition), allergic rhinitis, depressive disorder, and complex partial seizures evolving to generalized seizure due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional evidence regarding in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent disability rating, and TDIU was granted effective September 29, 2023. The earlier effective date claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder, finding that the current ratings of 10 percent and 50 percent were appropriate.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with an effective date of December 29, 2013, a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 17, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, based on the Veteran's credible in-service stressor account.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service-connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress (dysthymic disorder) is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, persistent depressive disorder, MDD, and unspecified anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including chloracne, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, major depressive disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a kidney disability, to obtain further development in accordance with the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act).

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, GAD, MDD, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and neurocognitive disorder secondary to alcohol abuse, due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service incident.

All appeals listed were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, a psychotic disorder, and PTSD.