The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied. For the initial rating period from February 2, 2005 to December 1, 2012, he was granted a 30 percent rating for anxiety disorder, NOS. For the initial rating period from December 1, 2012 onwards, he was granted a 50 percent rating for anxiety disorder, NOS. He was also granted compensable ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and chondromalacia patellae of both knees, but not for migraines.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have depression diagnosed by medical professionals. For the initial rating period from February 2, 2005 to December 1, 2012, his anxiety disorder was manifested as moderate anxiety and mild depression with some impairment in concentration and attention. For the initial rating period from December 1, 2012 onwards, his anxiety disorder resulted in more severe symptoms such as panic attacks, depressed mood, impaired judgment, and difficulty adapting to stressful situations.
- Claimed conditions
- Depression
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1427262
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1427262.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and Depression as these conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records are considered in determining whether there is a nexus between current symptoms and service.
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