BVA Case 20005180: Depression
BVAReal Board of Veterans' Appeals decision · September 24, 2024 · Vito A. Clementi
Conditions Claimed
DepressionAnxietyPsychiatricBackKneeHearing LossTinnitusHipSkinTDIU
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Issues on Appeal
DepressionAnxietyPsychiatricBackKneeHearing LossTinnitusHip
Why It Was Decided This Way
14-09 226A DATE: September 24, 2024 ORDER New and material evidence having been received, the claim of service connection for a low back disorder is reopened and to this extent only, the appeal is granted.
New and material evidence having been received, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened and to this extent only, the appeal is granted.
New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and for bilateral hearing loss.
The Board presently finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and for bilateral hearing loss.
New and Material Evidence When a claim is denied by VA, the claimant has one year from the date of mailing of notice of the denial to file an appeal or submit additional relevant evidence.
Essentially, for the claimant to have the finally denied claim reexamined by VA for whether additional development and readjudication under the law applicable in this appeal, the claimant must submit "new and material" evidence.
New and material evidence can be neither cumulative nor redundant of the evidence of record at the time of the last prior final denial of the claim sought to be reopened and must raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.
When determining whether the submitted evidence meets the definition of new and material evidence, VA must consider whether the new evidence could, if the claim were reopened, reasonably result in substantiation of the claim.
Authorities Cited
Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)
Denial Type
Credibility|No Nexus|Not New Material|Preponderance Against|Duty To Assist
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