{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/major-depressive-disorder-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:24.886Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Major depressive disorder secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Major depressive disorder","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":855,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":49.2,"denied_pct":15.9,"remanded_pct":33.1,"granted_on_merits_pct":75.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":89,"granted_pct":31.5,"denied_pct":30.3,"remanded_pct":32.6},{"year":2018,"issues":147,"granted_pct":47.6,"denied_pct":17.7,"remanded_pct":29.3},{"year":2019,"issues":134,"granted_pct":50.7,"denied_pct":11.2,"remanded_pct":33.6},{"year":2020,"issues":97,"granted_pct":48.5,"denied_pct":13.4,"remanded_pct":36.1},{"year":2021,"issues":77,"granted_pct":45.5,"denied_pct":18.2,"remanded_pct":36.4},{"year":2022,"issues":71,"granted_pct":42.3,"denied_pct":15.5,"remanded_pct":39.4},{"year":2023,"issues":76,"granted_pct":55.3,"denied_pct":11.8,"remanded_pct":32.9},{"year":2024,"issues":86,"granted_pct":55.8,"denied_pct":11.6,"remanded_pct":32.6},{"year":2025,"issues":67,"granted_pct":56.7,"denied_pct":16.4,"remanded_pct":26.9},{"year":2026,"issues":21,"granted_pct":76.2,"denied_pct":0,"remanded_pct":19}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":176,"granted_pct_with":88.8,"granted_pct_without":70.3},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":663,"granted_pct_with":74.4,"granted_pct_without":80.2},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":411,"granted_pct_with":93.1,"granted_pct_without":45.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":533,"granted_pct_with":70.8,"granted_pct_without":83.8},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":488,"granted_pct_with":84,"granted_pct_without":58.5},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":85,"granted_pct_with":87,"granted_pct_without":74},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":708,"granted_pct_with":73.6,"granted_pct_without":88.2}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":112},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":38},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":38},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":23},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":7},{"reason":"new and material evidence submitted","decisions":5}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":16},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":14},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":11},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":10},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":4}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26037085","year":2026,"judge":"MARJORIE A. AUER","rationale":"Private physician opinion found condition more likely than not secondary to service-connected injuries.; Evidence found to be in equipoise regarding nexus.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor."},{"case_id":"A26036966","year":2026,"judge":"L. M. BARNARD","rationale":"Private psychiatric opinion found depressive disorder caused/aggravated by chronic pain from service-connected conditions.; Private opinion cited medical literature and applied it to veteran's symptoms.; VA examiners' opinions were less favorable or speculative.; Presumption of sound mind at entry t… [truncated, 67 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26033138","year":2026,"judge":"TIMOTHY COTHREL","rationale":"Secondary service connection granted; Private medical opinion found persuasive; Benefit of the doubt applied"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A25104968","year":2025,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"Private opinion inadequate due to inconsistencies with VA treatment records; Lack of clear rationale or review of medical history in private opinion; Veteran's assertions on etiology deemed incompetent"},{"case_id":"A25099549","year":2025,"judge":"KRISTY L. ZADORA","rationale":"No current diagnosis during appeal period; Service treatment records negative; Post-service treatment records negative"},{"case_id":"25013103","year":2025,"judge":"B. D. WATSON","rationale":"Competent medical opinions indicated multiple etiologies unrelated to low back disability.; Weight of the evidence was against service connection.; Benefit of the doubt doctrine not applicable as evidence weighed against claim."}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":865,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":206,"granted_pct":37.4},"causation_only":{"issues":659,"granted_pct":52.4},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":32,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":161,"granted_pct":83.9,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001071","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Board found persuasive evidence linking the psychiatric disorder to the functional impairments and pain caused by these service-connected conditions."},{"case_id":"24021729","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA psychiatric opinions found disorders most consistent with recent life events and chronic pain, not service."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":70,"granted_pct":67.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26001877","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for depressive disorder due to another medical condition is granted, found to be secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy."},{"case_id":"A25104968","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed service connection for depressive disorder secondary to service-connected right lower radial nerve and lumbar degenerative disease."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":43,"granted_pct":25.6,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25061319","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Board found a private medical opinion probative, linking the Veteran's stress, anxiety, and depressed mood to chronic pain from these service-connected conditions."},{"case_id":"24021729","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Board also denied direct service connection for these psychiatric disorders, finding the medical evidence did not establish a causal link to in-service stressors."}]},{"pathway":"Sleep disruption","issues":31,"granted_pct":61.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001071","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including diagnosed depressive and insomnia disorders, was granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chronic fatigue, and IBS."},{"case_id":"A24037701","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Evidence weighed against direct service connection for depression and sleep disturbance.."}]},{"pathway":"Reduced activity or mobility","issues":13,"granted_pct":69.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26001877","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Private medical opinion linked mental health to physical limitations"},{"case_id":"A25033153","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The VA examiner noted frustration due to physical limitations but no diagnosed mental health condition or symptoms."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}