The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder (MDD) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for MDD prior to March 19, 2014 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date of service connection for MDD as the only basis for award was the date of receipt of the Veteran’s request to reopen his previous denied claim, which was April 10, 2009.,The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,There is no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility, as basic eligibility did not begin earlier than March 19, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23053932
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 23053932.
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 claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.
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.