Depression decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of all identified acquired psychiatric disorders.

The appeal for service connection of somatic symptom disorder is dismissed as the Veteran's claim was encompassed by his newly granted depressive disorder.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus has been granted based on credible lay testimony indicating that the condition began during active duty and persists to this day.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with MDD may have resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to October 16, 2024. However, there is insufficient medical evidence of record to make a proper determination on this issue as previous VA mental health examinations did not provide necessary information concerning occupational and social impairment or consider the Veteran's spouse's report.

The appeal of a proposed reduction in disability rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder from 50 percent to 30 percent is dismissed. The claim of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders to his service, including any in-service stressors. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, insomnia, and nightmares. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service trauma of being pushed off a diving board during boot camp, which led to persistent mental health issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability claimed as depression, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active duty service and his current diagnosis of depression.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 70 percent for Persistent Depressive Disorder, the rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA, and the compensable rating for Migraine Headaches are all denied. Service connection for a Left Knee Disorder is also denied.

The reduction of the rating for major depressive disorder from 100 percent to 50 percent was improper, and the 100 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and anxiety disorder with depressive disorder are denied. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for acquired psychiatric disorder with major depressive disorder from October 27, 2021 is dismissed. The issue of service connection for substance abuse and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to October 27, 2021 are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from February 18, 2019 to August 24, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal and hearing request for increased ratings of persistent depressive disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, mild, with anxious distress and insomnia is granted a 50 percent disability rating from November 14, 2004 to January 5, 2025.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors and corroborated by military personnel records. The Veteran's MDD is not found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a stomach disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 11, 2024. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as it did not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's mixed anxiety depressive disorder (previously claimed as memory loss and memory lapse, and PTSD) is rated at 50 percent from March 28, 2019, with a denial of higher ratings prior to that date.