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, warranting a 70 percent rating under DC 9434. His combined disability rating satisfied the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.
- 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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (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 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
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