Depression decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected MDD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance from another person, which has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, GAD, and PTSD. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and insomnia), stomach disorder (to include diarrhea), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus disability. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on her service-connected PTSD with depression and anxiety, painful scars from ileostomy/reversal, and scars from ileostomy/reversal are being remanded due to a missing medical record.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, recurrent episodes, moderate presentation has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral restless leg syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder, lumbosacral strain (claimed as pain of lumbar spine), left sciatic radicular pain, right sciatic radicular pain, tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, coronary heart disease, dermatosis hands, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral restless leg syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder, lumbosacral strain (claimed as pain of lumbar spine), left sciatic radicular pain, right sciatic radicular pain, tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, coronary heart disease, dermatosis hands, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, as well as for an enlarged prostate. The claim of service connection for the residuals of Clark melanoma level II of the right shoulder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he submitted a VA Form 10182 on April 22, 2025, which is considered an improper concurrent election with the supplemental claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and nontuberculous mycobacterium disability are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service, and also concluded that he was exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, vertigo, bruxism, lower back condition, migraines, PTSD (to include depression, somatic system disorder), GERD, and sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error in obtaining service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence in the record, and a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including ADHD, GAD, and MDD, began in service or is otherwise related to active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition symptomatology from February 1, 1995, to the present.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cause of death and Parkinson's disease due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran had service-connected major depressive disorder since 1972, which may have been an early symptom of his later diagnosed Parkinson's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety, alcohol use and cannabis use disorders) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back condition. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's mental health conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's MDD and migraines were granted effective June 13, 2023. The effective date for DEA benefits and SMC based on housebound status is also January 18, 2023.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, major depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, GERD, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for MDD from May 31, 2023 is dismissed as moot. The issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC are remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his active-duty service and has been granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of supporting evidence from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.