The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and alcohol use disorder, finding that February 26, 2022, is the earliest date as of which it is ascertainable that the increase in disability had occurred.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence of total occupational and social impairment prior to February 26, 2022, which would warrant a 100 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with psychotic features, alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24066466
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a liver condition, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and tinnitus.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, alcohol use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.
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