Depression decisions — 2026

The appeal for service connection for left foot tendonitis is dismissed.,A separate disability rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks due to military sexual trauma, to include bruxism, separate and apart from the rating for a traumatic brain injury, is denied.,An initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks due to military sexual trauma, to include bruxism and traumatic brain injury, is denied.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent, and no higher, for service-connected Meniere's syndrome is granted. The appeal for a separate rating for service-connected Meniere's syndrome is moot and dismissed.,The appeal for effective dates prior to December 13, 2021, for the award of service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, left hip limitation of abduction and rotation, left hip limitation of extension, right hip osteoarthritis, right hip limitation of abduction and rotation, and right hip limitation of extension is dismissed.,The appeal for a separate disability rating for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded. The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus to include plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for right ankle ankylosis, left ankle ankylosis, and service connection for iron deficiency (anemia) are remanded. The motion for revision, on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, of the April 24, 1995, Rating Decision, which denied service connection for a left leg disability is also remanded.,The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than insomnia, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting major depressive disorder was aggravated during his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 5, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with persistent depressive disorder, as well as the claim for TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the Veteran's complete SSA records, including all administrative decision(s) on her application and all underlying medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that the symptoms had their onset during service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD, are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for lower back pain and right shoulder pain, but has remanded the claim of major depressive disorder with suicidal tendency due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and anxiety, hearing loss, tendonitis, PTSD, and headaches has been granted. The appeals for service connection for hearing loss and tendonitis are denied. The appeals for service connection for PTSD and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding her service-connected depression. She needs an examination to assess the impact of her depression on her ability to work.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder and depressive disorder with anxious distress, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision finds that the Veteran's sleeplessness due to constant ringing in his ears caused his depression.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was granted, and she is now rated at 70 percent effective March 2, 2011. The issue of service connection for lumbar spondylosis with bilateral sciatica, secondary to bulimia, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of November 22, 2022 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The effective date is based on continuous pursuit of his increased disability rating claims and the fact that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an earlier effective date and special monthly compensation based on factual aid and attendance due to missing private treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide VA with authorization forms for his medical providers, including mental health ones, and requests for these records are made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition and remanded her claims for service connection for depression and TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, is rated at 70 percent effective October 28, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the Appellant's character of discharge from service constitutes a bar to VA benefits. The claimant's acquired psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of lung cancer or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for PTSD was not granted, and the claims for left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left knee arthroplasty and rheumatoid arthritis, and right knee arthritis were also denied.

The Veteran's major depression disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of greater than 50 percent is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.