Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating assigned for service-connected psychiatric disability is dismissed as the AOJ has not yet readjudicated this issue after identifying a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's MDD is manifested by psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, depressed mood, irritability with angry outbursts, delusions, persistent danger of hurting himself, memory loss, panic attacks, suicide attempts and ideations, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, gross impairment in thought processes, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances. The Board finds an initial rating of 100 percent is warranted for the period prior to April 18, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for unspecified muscle pain is dismissed. The AOJ also remanded several other issues including increased evaluations and service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance, which is granted as special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, due to military sexual trauma (MST) during service. The Veteran's consistent reports of two instances of MST have been corroborated by her friend and the VA examiner.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, GAD, other specified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, during the period under review. The Veteran's service records do not indicate any such diagnoses. Therefore, his claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The appeal for neck pain pinched nerve severe arthritis cervical spine is dismissed as a matter of law. Service connection and increased ratings are granted for major depression, mental disorder anxiety and PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome (both wrists), and migraine including migraine variants.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety has already been granted, as the RO has already granted service connection for major depressive disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury, which encompasses the entire appeal period.

The appeal regarding the reduction of the disability rating for major depressive disorder from 50% to 30% is granted. The claim for a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder remains pending and will be remanded due to issues related to sexual dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a left hand injury were remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a left hand injury were remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's PVD is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The rating for PTSD-TBI as of November 1, 2020 remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected TMJ with bruxism, based on new evidence submitted after the January 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

Service connection for PTSD, to include depression is granted.,Service connection for blisters of bilateral feet is denied.,Service connection for cervical strain is denied.,Service connection for headaches is denied.,Service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff injury is denied.,Service connection for chest injury and lumbar strain are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of depressive disorder, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed psychiatric disorder and service.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in a February 2026 statement.