Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements and VA examination reports are considered in forming a new opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a vision disorder, a back disorder, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, left shoulder disability, and right wrist disability due to incomplete evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 70 percent evaluation. The evidence does not show total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his in-service stressor. The rating of 100% (total disability) was assigned due to the severity of his symptoms and conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, may be related to his military service. However, due to errors in verifying stressors and obtaining a medical opinion, the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his time in service.

The Veteran's PDD was initially rated at 30% prior to October 15, 2018. As of October 15, 2018, the rating was increased to 70%. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability alone has rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) based on this condition. Additionally, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) due to his housebound status.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further action, including obtaining an appropriate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as somatic symptom disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and/or depression) to be remanded due to a lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee ligament tear with degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of hips and great toes, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective November 20, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as the Veteran's inability to work is caused by his nonservice-connected heart condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the March 27, 2025 request for an extension of time to file an appeal from a rating decision issued on December 16, 2019 that denied service connection for depression, drug addiction, and PTSD is not timely.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as the evidence does not show that they preclude her from working.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 2021 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim was not considered prior to this date as VA received a completed application form within one year of his intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2019 VA medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded based on new military personnel records showing his deployment to Panama and Honduras.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination report.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to January 30, 2019 for service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ due to his disabilities. The effective date was set at January 30, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his depressive disorder and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is dismissed due to a pending legacy appeal. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for the depressive disorder and an earlier effective date for DEA.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder with insomnia, finding that it is related to the veteran's service-connected tinnitus.