The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has not caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so a higher rating than 30 percent is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders due to lack of evidence of flattened affect, impaired judgment, or difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2022
- Citation
- A22021509
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 A22021509.
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 Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to his active-duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, effective January 17, 2024. The Board has now granted an earlier effective date of May 31, 2019.
- Granted
The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. The other issues have been denied.
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