Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her depressive disorder is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination conducted in October 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for anxiety, a back disability, depression, fatigue, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Board dismissed the appeal as withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and bilateral knee conditions, have precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the period beginning April 5, 2020.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, anxiety, and depression, is granted as service-connected due to aggravation of her already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's tinea pedis, left back scar, and allergic rhinitis are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings.,Service connection for sinusitis, right achilles tendon strain, depression, and sleep disturbances is denied.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and other disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU from August 2018 to March 25, 2024, but his combined disability rating of 100% since then satisfies the requirement for SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including OCD, anxiety, and depressive disorder), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, is being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of MDD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's reported stressors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, other specified trauma related disorder, and other specified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder was granted, and the effective date of the 100% disability rating is set at January 13, 2025.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, vertigo, diabetes mellitus, heart disability, gastrointestinal problems, and pancreatitis have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and anxiety and depression. The evidence did not meet the criteria for these conditions to be considered disabilities under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to service.

The petition to readjudicate the previously denied claims of service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension and COPD/chronic bronchitis is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (including insomnia disorder and other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress), but has remanded the issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, left kidney cancer, and neuro-cognitive disorder with depressive disorder from January 8, 2020 was denied. The Veteran's headaches were granted a 10% rating effective January 8, 2020, but the Veteran's vertigo did not meet the criteria for a greater than 10% rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and PTSD, was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to November 30, 2023. The Board found that the symptoms met the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent or above is not warranted based on his symptoms.