The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed periods of depression but also indicated that the Veteran could go a whole month without being depressed and had good days out-numbering bad ones. His work experience was in food service which he could reasonably continue in non-hospital settings.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176546
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19176546.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 20, 1997, for the award of service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound. The service connection claims for GERD and hypertension were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new retrospective opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 28, 2020, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.
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