Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, IBS, chronic sinusitis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and peristent depressive disorder, and a skin condition. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

A rating of 70 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress and chronic sleep impairment is granted from July 21, 2023, to April 15, 2024.,An earlier effective date for the assignment of a 100 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,Service connection for CFS was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran did not have any current diagnosis of CFS.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis was granted based on pre-existing conditions during service, and the effective date is August 8, 2024 (the date of the decision).,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was granted as it is related to his active-duty stressors.,Service connection for cervicogenic headaches was remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for radicular pain and paresthesia of the left upper extremity was also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (sinusitis), and an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder with anxiety). The evidence did not show the presence of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's reports of symptoms were insufficient to meet the first element of service connection as he had no complaints or treatment for sleep, sinus, or psychiatric disabilities prior to his September 2025 statement.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the initial examination and lack of consideration of prior medical records. The appellant's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of May 8, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating and service connection for PTSD, mixed anxiety, depressive disorder, and dementia has been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant during the pendency of her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance at a higher rate is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The effective date of the grant remains August 27, 2024.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of the suicide incident and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, including DDD and L5 sacralization, is granted as service-connected.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, General Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to his military service. The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, is rated at 60 percent from September 1, 2007. The effective date for service connection of depressive disorder is set to July 31, 2007.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is not eligible for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to his current service-connected conditions and lack of need for personal care services. The decision is being remanded because the medical opinion supporting this decision appears to be legally inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder with moderate and recurrent anxious distress, and loss of teeth were granted effective December 19, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with MDD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, sinusitis, headaches, right knee osteoarthritis and left knee strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, is at least as likely as not caused by in-service trauma. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral flatfoot (pes planus) was denied as he is already receiving the highest schedular rating available.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining service treatment records and military personnel records, as well as a need for an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and determination of service connection for various conditions. The current rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, and right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.