The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, recurrent, severe, and alcohol use disorder as the evidence did not support a higher level of impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those associated with a 50 percent rating, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with anxious distress, recurrent, severe, and alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2024
- Citation
- 24032204
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress, an effective date of January 2, 2024, for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), and Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from the same date. The appeal seeking entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's social and occupational history.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's election of administrative review options.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated a 70 percent rating.
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