The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress has been rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for total social and occupational impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s MDD resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but did not cause total occupational impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with anxious distress (MDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19174465
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 19174465.
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 has granted an effective date of December 8, 2023 for service connection of major depressive disorder with anxious distress (MDD). The Veteran's claim was filed on December 8, 2023, and the denial became final in November 2023. The earliest date of entitlement is September 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied, and he is granted a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran also has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability since December 6, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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.