Depression decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates for depressive disorder and migraines have been denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his diabetes mellitus and his claimed conditions. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the outcome of the diabetes claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling. The Board denied his appeal for a higher rating, finding that the evidence did not support total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder from March 1, 2023 was granted. The effective date remains pending as the earlier effective date request is separate and distinct.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder was denied as there was no continuous pursuit of the issue within one year of the July 18, 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to migraines due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for persistent depressive disorder, with pure dysthymic syndrome, with anxious distress, late onset, mild (acquired psychiatric disorder) with TBI is denied. The claim for TDIU remains granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in the May 2015 RO decision regarding his TDIU, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective March 4, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximated a 50 percent rating and granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date is from February 10, 2019, to May 6, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his depressive disorder is remanded due to the failure to provide proper notification of the VA examination and the Veteran's reported homelessness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist, and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The right and left knee arthritis issues are also remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the impact of medication on the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder causes or aggravates her obstructive sleep apnea. The VA must obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with adjustment disorder has been granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current mental health symptoms are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for migraines was denied as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder was also denied, as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 12, 2021 for the assignment of a 70 percent disability rating for recurrent major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.