The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder, effective from May 18, 2006 to October 29, 2018, and after March 1, 2019, is granted. The decision also grants a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran’s MDD symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating under DC 9434. The combined disability rating of 80 percent satisfied the criteria for TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Right Ankle Fracture, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19178014
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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