The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and panic attacks have not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, or near-continuous panic affecting ability to function independently.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, panic attacks
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150440
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, finding that her symptoms more closely approximated those required for such a rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 7, 2020, for the award of a 70 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder and TDIU, but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.
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