The Veteran's major depressive disorder with opioid dependency is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for mental disorders. The Board found that his symptoms warrant this higher rating based on his difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, and suicidal ideation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and neglect of personal appearance and hygiene were found to warrant a higher rating than the current 50 percent assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Opioid dependency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24039592
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 A24039592.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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