Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder with psychosis and associated stimulant and alcohol use disorders required hospital treatment for a period exceeding 21 days from February 26, 2020 to March 20, 2020. The Board granted a temporary total evaluation of 100%.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as service connection is established due to an in-service personal assault.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified trauma and unrelated stressor disorder, and adjustment disorder with combined anxiety and depression. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to events during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, prior to November 4, 2024. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of a sexual assault during service and her current diagnosis related to this event.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion and a failure to obtain relevant private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his psychiatric disabilities will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months due to his conditions, but further evaluation is needed to determine if it is in his best interest to participate in the PCAFC program.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left foot disability, and a right foot disability due to a failure to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The SSA denied the Veteran's applications for SSDI in 2001, 2014, and 2015, but he appealed these decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and inadequate VA examinations, as well as potential pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a thorough review of all relevant records.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and depression due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran did not submit any new or relevant evidence related to these conditions since the previous decisions. Additionally, he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in June 2024 related to his claim for service connection for depression.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI is granted at a 100% rating throughout the period on appeal, effective from March 31, 2011. His initial rating for vertigo is also granted at a 30% rating. The effective date of SMC at the housebound rate is set to March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which supports a link between his in-service experiences and his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, and obesity. The claims are being reviewed due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as a TDIU. The Board finds that the criteria for withdrawal have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to July 29, 2020. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are found to be at least as likely as not related to her military service. Service connection is granted.

The appeal for service connection of depression is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and MDD (formerly depression) is denied.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including obtaining SSA disability records related to the Veteran's MDD and job loss. The issues of increased evaluation for psychiatric disabilities and earlier effective date for TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be resolved together.

The Veteran seeks recognition of his son J.A.R. as a child for additional dependency compensation due to the Veteran's disability rating. The Board finds that there was an error in not obtaining federal records from SSA, which could be relevant to determining if J.A.R. is permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, with some issues being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder as secondary to her service-connected breast cancer.