The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation based on TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) for the periods prior to April 28, 2015 and beginning December 1, 2015. For the period from April 28, 2015 to November 30, 2015, the TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to his combined disability rating of 100% for prostate cancer. Beginning December 1, 2015, SMC is granted based on additional service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disability alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods prior to April 28, 2015 and beginning December 1, 2015. For the period from April 28, 2015 to November 30, 2015, his combined disability rating for prostate cancer made him eligible for SMC.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21008669
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 21008669.
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 Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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