The Veteran's depression disorder is currently rated at 100 percent disabling effective December 23, 2013. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 50 percent.,For the entire appeal period prior to March 2, 2006, the Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's depression disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective relationships. These symptoms have led to deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Depression Disorder, Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease of the Thoracolumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1756208
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 1756208.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 40 percent disability rating for his degenerative joint and disc disease in the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was not sustained and material improvement in his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to September 1, 2020 and 40% thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for increased ratings of radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's back disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to January 8, 2020. Ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied for both lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.
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