Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records (SPRs) and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran experienced a personal assault during service. The claim will be reconsidered with these additional pieces of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to retrieve relevant hospital records from Fort Sill and inadequacy of the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, which may include PTSD, anxiety disorder, or depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural issues, specifically failing to provide notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, as there is potential association between his symptoms and military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for other specified anxiety disorder was reduced from 70 to 50 percent, effective February 1, 2020. The reduction was upheld as the evidence did not show sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as there was no open rating issue to attach the TDIU claim, and the effective date for TDIU is set at January 16, 2024.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious distress prior to July 18, 2025, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. However, the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 100 percent due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and other trauma- and stressor-related disorder, finding that these conditions are due to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and § 1114(t) for the periods specified, based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for PTSD and has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's depression is caused or aggravated by her service-connected physical conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, anxiety disorder unspecified, and insomnia unspecified are related to events he experienced during service. The Board granted the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart condition and acquired psychological disorder are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of her migraine headaches, syncope, dizziness, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC at the intermediate rate. The rating for left knee flexion limitation is granted, as well as instability ratings for the left knee. Tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent. Service connection claims related to a left ear condition, depressive disorder with anxiety, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since December 22, 2020. The Board found the evidence demonstrated a 70 percent rating was warranted due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and a failure to address secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, back disorder, foot disorders, knee disorders, hip disorder, migraine headaches, hypertension, and heart disorder. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.