Depression decisions — 2026

An effective date of March 13, 2020 for the initial assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's travel expenses for the cancelled appointment on January 10, 2022, are reimbursed as his failure to obtain care was due solely to VA actions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for unspecified depressive disorder is denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for his claimed bowel, bladder, memory loss, and psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a link between his service-connected diabetes mellitus type I with hypertension and erectile dysfunction disability and his claimed depressive disorder.

The Veteran's skin rash and acquired psychiatric disorders are deemed to be a result of the VA left TKR performed on September 28, 2015. The decision grants compensation for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Major depressive disorder and Persistent dysthymic disorder, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's eligibility for NSC pension based on wartime service and minimum active duty service requirements is granted. The appeal for payment of NSC pension benefits is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran being in receipt of a 100% rating for her service-connected disabilities. The appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder prior to December 4, 2020 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, thus denying an increased rating. For migraines, a 30 percent rating was granted effective from when the Veteran's claim for increase was received (presumably prior to December 4, 2020).

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to reschedule a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims include service connection and secondary service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a neurocognitive disorder, depression, and anxiety), benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, obstructive sleep apnea, and balance issues due to potential errors in the decision-making process.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and middle insomnia are granted as service-connected. The left ankle, lumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities are also granted as service-connected. However, the Veteran's migraines, bilateral shins (tibialis posterior tendinitis), stomach pain, nausea, queasiness, and bilateral foot disabilities remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service personnel records, which are necessary to determine if the appellant's National Guard service was 'federalized' (i.e., Title 10 or Title 32 service).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder secondary to service-connected tinnitus was granted with an effective date of March 22, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and cervical spine disability, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or event related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, chronic headaches, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, anxious distress, and generalized anxiety disorder. The right sacroiliac joint dysfunction and TBI claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including his somatic symptom disorder, is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol use disorder, and cocaine use disorder, is related to an in-service assault by three fellow servicemembers. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.