The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a disability rating of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and remanded for further evaluation on the issue of a higher disability rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran’s symptoms did not more closely approximate those required for a 100% rating, but were consistent with a 70% rating. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran's lumbar disability warrants a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, lumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001037
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.
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