The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability (claimed as low back and lumbar spine) has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. Service connection is granted.,An earlier effective date of June 16, 2011, for service connection for persistent depressive disorder is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted new and material evidence in support of his claim for service connection for a back disability (claimed as low back and lumbar spine), which was previously denied. The Board found that the additional evidence related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disability (Low Back and Lumbar Spine), Persistent Depressive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20022463
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 20022463.
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's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, effective January 17, 2024. The Board has now granted an earlier effective date of May 31, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. The other issues have been denied.
- Dismissed
Your previously granted service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with persistent depressive and insomnia disorder, now represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The appeal is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of persistent depressive disorder was denied as the earliest date of claim is January 29, 2010.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his persistent depressive disorder was also denied. The current assigned rating of 70 percent has been in effect since at least December 2012.
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