The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS was rated at 50 percent prior to January 21, 2014 and increased to 70 percent effective January 21, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
The deciding factor: The Veteran exhibited suicidal ideations and other symptoms such as auditory hallucinations which caused significant occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20069509
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,432 · Granted: 29% (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 20069509.
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder NOS from January 21, 2014 as it was a purely ministerial implementation of the previous Board decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and conflicting medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder NOS are currently rated as 50 percent disabling, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.
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