The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The appeal was denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s MDD with anxious distress has manifested in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking, or mood, without more severe manifestations that more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20041045
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 20041045.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The proposal to reduce the rating assigned to Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress from 70 percent to 50 percent was dismissed due to it not being an initial decision.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 70 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and insomnia disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's MDD with anxious distress has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent. The case is remanded for further review.
- Denied
The Board denied effective dates prior to June 16, 2021 for various service connection claims and increased ratings.
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