The Veteran's MDD with psychotic features has been granted a rating of 50 percent, effective March 17, 2009. His lumbar disc strain disability is not rated higher than 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's MDD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood, but not to the extent that would warrant a rating of 100 percent. His lumbar disc strain disability has not resulted in incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1552428
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 1552428.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for PTSD, finding that the symptoms of PTSD are fully contemplated by the existing 100 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder with psychotic features, is currently rated at 70 percent and the Board has remanded the case for further development. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, effective January 6, 2021.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.
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