The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder with major depressive features and epilepsy, which prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. An earlier effective date for the award of service connection for mood disorder with major depressive features associated with epilepsy is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder with major depressive features and epilepsy.
- Claimed conditions
- mood disorder with major depressive features, epilepsy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20077937
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 20077937.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for seizures, to include epilepsy, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of such a disorder related to his military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for epilepsy, bilateral detached retina (previously rated as blurred vision), cervical spine condition, and migraine headaches. However, it granted service connection for hypertension and earlier effective dates for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claims for carotid artery stenosis, cerebral aneurysm, constipation, epilepsy, and hypertension to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to restore a 40 percent rating for his service-connected epilepsy, finding that there was an actual improvement in his condition as it pertains to his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.