Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and TMJ with bruxism, effective from the dates of the respective Supplemental Claims. The Veteran's continuous symptoms since separation from service are considered in determining these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating greater than 40 percent for TBI, service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and polysubstance abuse disorder. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and a respiratory condition due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, recurrent major depressive disorder, chronic sleep impairment, pansinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep disturbances is denied as any reported sleep disturbance is part of his major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is not entitled to a higher rating as there is no evidence of limitation of extension or flexion beyond what is already accounted for in the current 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for migraine remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability solely due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with depression as of December 4, 2021.,Special monthly compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted effective from December 4, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with depression remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD with depression, hypervigilance, insomnia, and intermittent explosive disorder (PTSD), and lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy (lumbar spine DDD) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's symptoms in the one-year period prior to his March 8, 2023 claim did not cause a disability rating of 70% or higher. The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of depression, so the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST), is being reviewed again as new evidence indicates he may have other conditions such as major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including trauma-stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder, was incurred during service. The VA examiner is asked to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors related to MST.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-5 and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU effective December 16, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and various musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent. The Board has granted SMC at the M-rate due to his need for special aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 14, 2005. The Board granted TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate rating for persistent depressive disorder and TBI back to the original date of claim is dismissed due to an error in docketing.

The Veteran's cause of death, depression, is granted as it was causally related to his active service.