Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's shin splints, GERD, iron deficiency or anemia, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder claims are being REMANDED due to the Veteran not reporting for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with chronic pain disorder, as there is a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected left index finger disability and his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling as of March 23, 2022. The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD from March 13, 2019.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and anger issues due to a deferral for further development. The Veteran's appeal was premature as it disagreed with a matter pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence in several areas.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are currently rated at the maximum schedular ratings, with no further increase granted. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from May 24, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to lack of legal merit. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria for SAH, as he did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability. For SMC, the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him helpless enough to require regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to her service. Therefore, she is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused severe impairment requiring the regular aid and attendance of his wife to protect him from daily hazards, with the first indications documented in a March 20, 2016 statement. The Board granted SMC based on this need starting from March 20, 2016.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform activities of daily living. The claim is remanded to determine if participation in the PCAFC program would be in the Veteran's best interest.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to MST, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis is related to his military service and supported by competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified depressive disorder and for an effective date prior to November 5, 2009, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic disorder, was denied in June 2015. The Veteran did not appeal this decision. In August 2017, the VA treatment records from April 2015 to August 2017 were considered but deemed not new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection was readjudicated again in August 2017, where it was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. New and material evidence submitted by the Veteran within one year of the August 2017 rating decision (November 2017 and August 2018 VA treatment records) were not considered as they did not contain information that was previously not considered, thus not meeting the criteria for new and material evidence. The Board found that the June 2015 and August 2017 rating decisions are final and an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, finding a link to active service. Service connection was denied for sinusitis and migraines.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2022 for the award of service connection for depressive disorder with mixed features of anxiety to include insomnia and erectile dysfunction.,SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) and SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) were also granted effective November 30, 2022 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the use of assistive devices such as braces, crutches, canes, rollators, and walkers. The Board has granted eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis of depression separate from his service-connected PTSD.