Depression decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial disability ratings and effective dates related to various conditions, including lumbar spine, sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The decision also granted a 60 percent rating for left knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for depression and an initial compensable rating for bulimia due to the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis of depression independent of other service-connected conditions, and the absence of incapacitating episodes related to bulimia.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, GERD with hiatal hernia, and sleep apnea while denying service connection for hypothyroidism, TMJ, stress headaches, and other conditions. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than February 27, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and persistent depressive disorder, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, insomnia sleep condition, traumatic brain injury, hypermetropia bilateral eyes injury, heart disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, and foot disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, for further development of evidence.

The Board denied an effective date prior to August 19, 2019, for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia disorder).

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder, based on the evidence of record.

The appeal for service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD has been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and feet and toes were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a TDIU to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's lower extremity pain on his ability to perform sedentary or physical activities of employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for various conditions, but granted a 20% rating for the thoracolumbar condition and a 50% rating for depressive disorder from October 30, 2009.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether the Veteran's discharge from service bars VA benefits due to errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with MDD from July 17, 2020, to July 16, 2021, but denied a higher rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress due to inconsistencies in the diagnosis and medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include other specified bipolar and related disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine, while denying increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder characterized as depressive disorder with anxiety, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for Alzheimer's disease, a mental health disability, disabilities manifested by generalized weakness of the lower extremities, and a heart disability.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from September 20, 2021 to January 22, 2023 and denied an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 100 percent rating.