Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnosis of major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not due to his military service.

The Veteran's persistent depression, cannabis use disorder, and alcohol use disorder are rated at 100 percent disabling. The bilateral hearing loss is rated at 80 percent disabling. The tinea versicolor remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, unspecified mood disorder and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's depression was not diagnosed in accordance with the DSM-5, but his psychiatric disabilities resulted in occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA PTSD medical opinion and for further verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran is also required to provide any additional information or documentation regarding his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder required hospital treatment in a VA hospital for a period of 23 days from November 7, 2024 through November 29, 2024. The Board granted the temporary total evaluation based on this requirement.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that a new medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it had its onset due to weight control failure in service or is related to compensatory eating behaviors during service.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 31, 2018 for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as the disability arose prior to his original claim on that date.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder has been granted. His hearing loss remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic adjustment disorder with depression and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, is not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to discrepancies in the Veteran's last day of full-time employment. The AOJ is required to verify this information and determine the appropriate effective dates.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further action.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records, which may provide relevant information for the claims of service connection. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the appeals for increased ratings are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder have been granted a 70 percent rating, effective December 28, 2023. The VA has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and scoliosis, as well as TDIU.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating than 70 percent. The decision also noted that she maintained relationships and was oriented throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for major depressive disorder, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and tinnitus have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The cases are being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for total social and occupational impairment prior to October 29, 2024.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety and sleep disturbance, alcohol and cannabis used disorder caused total occupational and social impairment from February 24, 2018, forward. The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU is based solely on his service-connected mixed anxiety with depression, and he has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or higher. Therefore, SMC based on statutory housebound status is granted as of June 1, 2019.