The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent disability rating for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was denied. The Board found that the increase in MDD did not occur within one year of the July 25, 2016, claim.,Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee conditions are related to service.
The deciding factor: The effective date for an increased disability rating cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the claim due to lack of ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior.,Service connection claims require a nexus between current condition and service, which was not established by the September 2022 VA examiner's opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Left Shoulder Condition, Right Shoulder Condition, Left Knee Condition, Right Knee Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23014192
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 23014192.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent disability rating for his psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with MDD and anxiety, has been granted. However, the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to procedural issues.
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