BVA decisions by condition
Major depressive disorder: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a major depressive disorder issue in 23,331 decisions. It granted the major depressive disorder issue in 35.3% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 27.1%, and remanded it in 34.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 56.5% were granted.
Decisions
23,331
2017–2026
Granted
35.3%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
56.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
34.8%
Denied: 27.1%
Major depressive disorder outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1,978 | 22.4% | 32.4% | 36.7% | 8.5% |
| 2018 | 3,721 | 29.3% | 27.9% | 37.0% | 5.8% |
| 2019 | 3,257 | 34.4% | 25.8% | 36.0% | 3.9% |
| 2020 | 2,450 | 34.9% | 26.7% | 35.1% | 3.3% |
| 2021 | 2,012 | 35.6% | 26.2% | 34.1% | 4.1% |
| 2022 | 2,004 | 35.8% | 22.1% | 38.1% | 4.1% |
| 2023 | 2,350 | 35.4% | 22.2% | 38.4% | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 2,631 | 39.3% | 26.5% | 31.3% | 2.9% |
| 2025 | 2,630 | 40.6% | 30.7% | 25.5% | 3.2% |
| 2026 | 955 | 44.5% | 28.5% | 23.5% | 3.6% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied major depressive disorder decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the major depressive disorder issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 5,924 | 85.8% | 42.0% | +43.8 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 4,012 | 79.3% | 49.6% | +29.8 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 5,481 | 74.0% | 51.6% | +22.3 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 9,169 | 67.6% | 47.1% | +20.5 pts |
| Buddy statement | 769 | 73.7% | 55.9% | +17.8 pts |
| Combat service | 1,303 | 72.0% | 55.5% | +16.6 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 2,048 | 67.2% | 55.2% | +12.0 pts |
| Lay statement | 19,261 | 55.8% | 62.2% | −6.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.7% of the decisions that granted major depressive disorder.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 35.8% of grants and 11.5% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often major depressive disorder was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 10,621 | 54.7% | 58.2% | −3.5 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 16,977 | 53.9% | 67.1% | −13.2 pts |
Major depressive disorder claimed as a secondary condition
Decisions where major depressive disorder was claimed as secondary to another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), by that disability.
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a back condition770 decisions · 47.4% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a knee condition512 decisions · 49.4% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to tinnitus384 decisions · 43.0% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to PTSD305 decisions · 62.0% granted
Why the Board granted or denied major depressive disorder
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established868
- Caused by the service-connected disability538
- Service connection established183
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability171
- Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas82
- Criteria for service connection met70
- Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria61
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service54
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim686
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service430
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis364
- Service records negative or silent334
- No current diagnosis331
- Current diagnosis established155
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 100% rating74
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70% rating57
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent major depressive disorder decisions
Granted
Evidence in equipoise regarding total occupational and social impairment; Persistent hallucinations noted in VA treatment records and examinations; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor
Current diagnosis of major depressive disorder.; Service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.; Private medical opinion found it more likely than not that the psychiatric disorder is related to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
Current disability established by RO's favorable finding based on June 2021 private exam.; In-service event established by June 2021 private examiner's opinion that MDD began during active duty.; Nexus to service established by June 2021 private examiner's opinion linking MDD to active duty and chronic continuation to present.
Denied
Symptoms contemplated within existing unspecified anxiety disorder rating; No indication of separate psychiatric disability not already compensated; Depressive disorder diagnosis not separately adjudicated
No competent evidence of current mental health diagnosis; VA examiner found no DSM-5 diagnosis; Veteran reported only mild, transient anxiety symptoms; No current treatment for mental health conditions
Service treatment records negative for mental health complaints/diagnoses during service.; Separation psychiatric evaluation normal; Veteran denied mental health history.; Symptoms of depression and anxiety began post-service.; C&P examiner opined conditions less likely than not due to service.
Rules that apply to major depressive disorder claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your major depressive disorder case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a major depressive disorder issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.