Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to August 6, 2020, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right shoulder disability, residuals of bronchitis, kidney pain, and testicular pain. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or a link to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected OSA is granted, and his hearing loss remains noncompensable. The claims for HTN and MDD are remanded.

The Veteran's combined rating was not at the 100% level prior to April 16, 2023, and thus did not meet the criteria for dependents' educational assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with an effective date prior to February 29, 2024 is dismissed due to the withdrawal of the request for higher level review.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 24, 2011 due to service-connected depression. He is also granted SMC from January 24, 2025 based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder as secondary to a neck condition due to the appellant's representative requesting withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder was granted an initial rating of 50 percent from June 20, 2017 to February 19, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for additional retroactive payments based on the award of an earlier effective date of November 30, 2015, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with MDD is denied. The Board found no basis to find that the amount of payment was 'short' and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to procedural errors and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include anxiety, as the evidence does not support a separate diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current OSA is secondary to his service-connected MDD with alcohol abuse disorder and PTSD, as well as whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing his current OSA.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, with pure dysthymia syndrome, moderate and traumatic brain injury with dizziness/vertigo are rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's TBI residuals do not warrant a separate rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, is rated at 70 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating, resulting in a denial of an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right hip disorder and scar were granted service connection with effective dates of December 7, 2016.,Tinnitus was granted a 10% disability rating with an effective date of December 7, 2016. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.,Service connection for the psychiatric disorder and low back disorder were granted with effective dates of July 15, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adenocarcinoma of the lungs was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability during or recent to the pendency of the appeal.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for vertigo, headaches, short-term memory loss, and depression was denied due to lack of evidence showing VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and other claims have been dismissed due to his death.