Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since the award of service connection. The Board is remanding the case to obtain a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his condition throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder with depressive disorder, unspecified, and anxious distress resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in areas of work, family relations, judgment, and mood. The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at September 27, 2018.

The Veteran's discharge was due to a service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, allowing her eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of missing records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal, and he was denied for stomach condition, liver condition, and depression.

The Veteran's initial ratings for major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood have been granted at a 50 percent rating, effective September 3, 2024. The Board has now determined that the criteria for an initial 70 percent rating are met from this date.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to her service or due to her service-connected breast cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected idiopathic sleep related nonobstructive alveolar hypoventilation is rated at 50 percent, and her major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for the sleep disability and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing chronic respiratory failure or tracheostomy.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding the disability rating for moderate major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, as well as the service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence received, including VA examinations and opinions that tend to prove or disprove the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cervical spine condition is denied as there was no in-service onset or chronicity.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including carcinoid syndrome, scar, gout, and a mental health condition. The effective dates for these claims are not yet determined as the appeals are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected MDD with GAD and PCOS caused her obesity, which in turn led to her obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to his military service. The appeal regarding the duty to assist error in establishing service connection for major depression with anxiety is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for arthritis of the hands and fingers, knees, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder due to another medical condition (seizures), with major depressive-like episode, with anxious distress is denied. The earliest possible effective date is December 17, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claims for major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a link between these conditions and his military service, particularly given his reported stressors and symptoms.