Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for depression as secondary to tinnitus and left ear hearing loss was flawed due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being remanded to obtain a new opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been granted a 100 percent disability rating throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to incomplete information and the need for further examination. The AOJ will gather necessary employment history, Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits information, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not rated compensably due to the absence of characteristic prostrating attacks.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it began within one year of separation from service.,An initial disability rating greater than 50% for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) is denied. The Veteran's condition, however, has been restored to a 50% rating effective August 1, 2025.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, claimed as depression and major depressive disorder, is granted for the period from October 2, 2024 to June 26, 2025.

The Veteran is denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 70% rating for depression. The earliest possible effective date is June 14, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depression was received on June 14, 2018, and therefore, no earlier effective date can be granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate and alcohol use disorder, mild. The decision finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding this issue.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion and to obtain any outstanding treatment records from Dr. Levi Kirkland.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 31, 2014, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is denied. The earliest effective date available for the TDIU was July 31, 2014, due to the Veteran not meeting the schedular rating requirements prior to that date.

The December 2012 rating decision was reversed to grant service connection for an anxiety disorder, which had previously been denied due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The new evidence provided by the VA psychologist in January 2012 established a link between the Veteran's military service and his current diagnosis of anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Panic Disorder, was granted with an effective date of January 19, 2022. The decision is based on the continuity of symptoms from military service.

The Board has granted service connection for AUD associated with PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding sufficient evidence in the period under review to warrant this connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. He also received a TDIU rating and SMC based on a housebound status.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, but the issue of TDIU has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms most closely approximated the level of impairment associated with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and major depressive disorder were found to have onset during his active-duty service. The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 0 percent for other conditions was dismissed, and the appeal concerning total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder) is rated at 70 percent since October 5, 2015. This decision grants a higher initial rating for the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's efforts to fulfill its duty to assist, including failing to consider relevant private treatment records and providing inadequate medical opinions. The appellant is requested to provide assistance in identifying outstanding records and an additional VA examination is needed.