The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent as his symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment required for a higher disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and duodenal ulcer) meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The severity of the Veteran’s symptoms does not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment required for a higher disability rating, thus denying an initial rating in excess of 70 percent. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria as they result in his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, duodenal ulcer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20049794
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 20049794.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including adjustment disorder, benign skin lesions, actinic keratosis, poikiloderma, porokeratosis, Parkinson's disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, hypertension, increased urinary frequency, diverticulosis, duodenal ulcer, and bilateral cataracts are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, mustard gas, and ionizing radiation during service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and duodenal ulcer have been dismissed as the appeal was made concurrently with a previously pending supplemental claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed stomach condition. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and reasoning.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance was granted, with the effective dates set at August 31, 2009.
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