The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence in remission is August 30, 2006. The Veteran's claim was not received within a year of his separation from active duty and thus cannot be earlier than this date. However, the matter of more than a 50 percent rating for the service-connected condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examination.
The deciding factor: The effective date is August 30, 2006 as it was not received within one year of separation from active duty. The other issues (rating and TDIU) require further evaluation based on new evidence and a comprehensive psychiatric examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence in remission
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2018
- Citation
- 18155831
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 18155831.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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