The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an unspecified depressive and anxiety disorders with an alcohol use disorder, is rated at 50 percent since October 19, 2017. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating as they did not demonstrate deficiencies in most areas such as work, judgment, thinking or mood associated with near continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, obsessional rituals, or spatial disorientation.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 13, 2022
- Citation
- A22025131
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 A22025131.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the claim was granted and effective from February 22, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective from August 3, 2021. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.
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