The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and adjustment disorder is denied. The Board found that all of the Veteran’s mental health disability impairments are considered under the current rating for PTSD.
The deciding factor: The VA psychiatrist determined it was not possible to differentiate what symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis (PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder) due to significant overlap of symptoms and concluded that the mental diagnosis resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and adjustment disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071785
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dysthymia, and anxious distress based on the Veteran's in-service combat-related stressors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the restoration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective March 1, 2021. The increased rating for dysthymia was denied.
- Partly granted
The veteran was granted a 50% rating for dysthymia from August 20, 2007, to January 2, 2013, and a 100% rating for major depressive disorder starting January 3, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to January 3, 2013, was denied.
- Denied
The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a higher rating was denied as there is no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date.
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