Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria were granted, effective September 22, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating effective February 24, 2018.,The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35 was granted an earlier effective date of February 24, 2018. However, the claim is denied as DEA benefits cannot be awarded prior to the effective date of a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with cannabis use disorder, depressive disorder due to another medical condition and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The case is being remanded because an inadequate examination was conducted by the VA TBI examiner.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for hearing loss and granted service connection for right elbow condition. The remaining issues of left elbow, cervical spine, left hand, right hand strain, left shoulder, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), movement disorder of the leg, movement disorder of the foot, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities pre-existed service and were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, is rated at 50 percent from September 16, 2016 to January 30, 2018. The Board found that the criteria for a 50 percent rating were met due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's TDIU rating based on depressive disorder is granted from October 17, 2018 to March 26, 2019. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted prior to March 26, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the August 2019 rating decision supports a grant of service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches and chronic lumbar strain with DDD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent from February 26, 2020. The appeal for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the award of a 100 percent rating.

An increased rating of 70 percent for 'other trauma and stressor related disorder' with unspecified depressive disorder and substance use disorder is granted, effective March 1, 2013. The Veteran's service-connected disability has caused total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's bladder disability claim is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.,Tinnitus has been granted as the Board finds that it first manifested during active service and is related to service.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of May 10, 2005 for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.,The Veteran was also granted an earlier effective date of May 10, 2005 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hypertension as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder). The decision affirms that the Veteran's current hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic major depression and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Chron's Disease.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed as the decisions granting those conditions are final and cannot be reviewed on a freestanding basis.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the previously denied service connection claims for anxiety, depression, back condition, left ankle condition, and left knee condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period prior to February 11, 2019. Beginning on February 11, 2019, he was in receipt of a combined schedular rating of 100 percent and is no longer unemployable solely due to one disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and PTSD was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182) was filed more than one year after the January 2015 rating decision denying these conditions.