The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence in full remission is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as total occupational and social impairment, gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, intermittent ability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), Alcohol dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20074267
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 initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder/major depressive disorder/insomnia.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than April 9, 2024, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
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