For the entire appeal period, the service-connected depression NOS is productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, due to symptoms including depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, and disturbances of motivation and mood, with a GAF score between 60 and 65. There is no evidence reduced reliability and productivity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depression was rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 9434 due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, as evidenced by his self-reported issues at work related to coworkers picking on him and missing days.
- Claimed conditions
- depression NOS
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1501854
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 1501854.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression NOS is rated at 30 percent from July 15, 2010 to August 4, 2022. The rating was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of records, including private treatment records. The Veteran's service-connected depression NOS is being evaluated again.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for depression NOS and mood disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.
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