{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/major-depressive-disorder-secondary-to-ptsd","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:28.005Z","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 PTSD","secondary_condition":"Major depressive disorder","service_connected_disability":"PTSD","decisions":305,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":62,"denied_pct":9.2,"remanded_pct":26.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":87.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":26,"granted_pct":61.5,"denied_pct":7.7,"remanded_pct":23.1},{"year":2018,"issues":38,"granted_pct":68.4,"denied_pct":5.3,"remanded_pct":18.4},{"year":2019,"issues":41,"granted_pct":51.2,"denied_pct":7.3,"remanded_pct":41.5},{"year":2020,"issues":39,"granted_pct":56.4,"denied_pct":7.7,"remanded_pct":35.9},{"year":2021,"issues":35,"granted_pct":57.1,"denied_pct":14.3,"remanded_pct":28.6},{"year":2022,"issues":22,"granted_pct":54.5,"denied_pct":13.6,"remanded_pct":27.3},{"year":2023,"issues":29,"granted_pct":65.5,"denied_pct":10.3,"remanded_pct":20.7},{"year":2024,"issues":32,"granted_pct":68.8,"denied_pct":6.3,"remanded_pct":25},{"year":2025,"issues":26,"granted_pct":80.8,"denied_pct":7.7,"remanded_pct":11.5}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":71.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":113,"granted_pct_with":96.1,"granted_pct_without":79.1},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":206,"granted_pct_with":82.8,"granted_pct_without":97},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":154,"granted_pct_with":97,"granted_pct_without":71.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":141,"granted_pct_with":81.2,"granted_pct_without":92.2},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":125,"granted_pct_with":90,"granted_pct_without":84.6},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":47,"granted_pct_with":92.5,"granted_pct_without":85.9},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":262,"granted_pct_with":86.2,"granted_pct_without":95.5},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":64,"granted_pct_with":92.5,"granted_pct_without":85.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":38},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":29},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":12},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":4},{"reason":"secondary to ptsd","decisions":3},{"reason":"ptsd is service-connected","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":4},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":3},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":2},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":2},{"reason":"no causal or etiological relationship to service shown","decisions":1},{"reason":"no basis for separate compensable evaluations","decisions":1}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26037759","year":2026,"judge":"REBECCA N. POULSON","rationale":"Depression symptoms could not be disassociated from PTSD; Symptom overlap between PTSD and depression noted; Service connection warranted as a manifestation of PTSD"},{"case_id":"A26034801","year":2026,"judge":"JIMMY L. BARDIN","rationale":"Current diagnosis of MDD established.; PTSD is service-connected.; Private medical opinion linked MDD to PTSD with favorable nexus."},{"case_id":"A26031631","year":2026,"judge":"TIMOTHY COTHREL","rationale":"VA examiner found MDD met DSM-5 criteria; Examiner opined MDD caused by inability to cope with PTSD symptoms; Examiner provided positive nexus to service"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038647","year":2026,"judge":"B. D. WATSON","rationale":"No current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) found.; Evidence shows depressed mood, but not MDD.; Symptoms responsive to therapy and coping skills."},{"case_id":"A26011853","year":2026,"judge":"MELANIE J. MANN","rationale":"PDD considered subsumed by PTSD; No separate service connection warranted"},{"case_id":"26000704","year":2026,"judge":"ERIC S. LEBOFF","rationale":"Symptoms subsumed by PTSD diagnosis; Anti-pyramiding rule (38 C.F.R. § 4.14); No distinct symptoms shown"}]},"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":305,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":33,"granted_pct":48.5},"causation_only":{"issues":272,"granted_pct":63.6},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":11.8,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Stress","issues":26,"granted_pct":42.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26006754","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Same in-service stressors applied to PTSD and major depression."},{"case_id":"23019570","year":2023,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Major depressive disorder diagnosis not based on verified in-service stressor."}]}]},"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."}}