The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 100 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder from November 28, 2016, to July 4, 2017, from September 1, 2017, to July 4, 2018, and since August 1, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had total occupational and social impairment during the periods when a 70 percent evaluation was in effect, with symptoms including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, unstable living situation, homelessness, financial difficulties, and psychiatric hospitalizations. Given these symptoms, the Board found that a 100 percent rating is warranted for the entire period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, stimulant use disorder, alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20064770
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a liver condition, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.
- 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 appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
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