Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective February 9, 2023. The earlier effective date for TDIU is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU based on depression alone and SMC, as his MFR was denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The AOJ is required to attempt to obtain private treatment records and provide an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no credible evidence supporting a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if the former service member's depression and cervical strain with multilevel cervical disc disease, as well as his multilevel thoracic disc disease, were incurred or aggravated during any period of active duty. The presumptions of soundness and aggravation do not apply due to lack of veteran status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for mental health treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, a back disorder, and a heart disorder. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these issues. The Veteran is also requested to provide additional details regarding her reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his major depressive disorder, but the AOJ's decision was remanded due to incomplete records. The Board requires that VA obtain any outstanding private treatment records related to the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of in-service mental health treatment records and an incomplete verification of the Veteran's claimed stressor. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his private mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's insomnia and right lower extremity shin splints have been granted service connection. The effective dates for these conditions are not specified.,Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress has been denied, as the earliest possible effective date is March 15, 2023.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% prior to March 6, 2024 and increased to 70% thereafter. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's SMC claim was granted based on his service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple knee conditions. The effective date is set at February 24, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and TBI are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism with hypoparathyroidism status post thyroidectomy.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for depression was withdrawn. The claim for service connection for IBS was denied as the condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased rating for left shoulder disability, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, constipation, and high blood pressure. The Veteran's anxiety and depression were not found to be related to his service, while his constipation was already compensated due to liver cancer residuals, and his hypertension was not shown to have started during or within one year of his service.