The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 10, 2015. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment. The claim for TDIU based on these conditions was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, while significant, did not result in total occupational and social impairment at any point during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19106829
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19106829.
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 Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative changes and major depressive disorder with anxiety, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with anxiety from August 31, 2019, and denied an effective date prior to August 31, 2020, for the grant of service connection and separate ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxiety. The claim is based on the Veteran's credible account of symptoms since service during his combat service in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status and/or aid and attendance due to issues with obtaining a medical opinion. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder with anxiety, personality disorders, substance addiction disorders, cocaine use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.