The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with panic disorder has been granted, as his symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment but not to the level that would warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s symptoms, including anxiety, depression, sleep impairment, and fluctuating isolation, meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9434, which requires deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with panic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20007591
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,874 · Granted: 33% (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 20007591.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his psychiatric symptoms.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, as recent evidence suggests a worsening of service-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all remaining issues on appeal, including the TDIU and increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with panic disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher evaluation for major depressive disorder, service connection for endometriosis and uterine fibroids with pelvic pain, and service connection for residual scars are all remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.
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