The Veteran's major depression has resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent warranting a higher initial rating. The current symptoms include depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbances in motivation, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms have been rated as moderate based on his Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score and the criteria for a 50% rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depression, Other specified trauma and stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2016
- Citation
- 1604720
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 1604720.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Panic Disorder due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, and found that service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related disorders.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
- Denied
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 70 percent. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent.
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