The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder alone renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a TDIU. The reduction in his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine rating was improper, restoring it to 40 percent. Special monthly compensation based on housebound status is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's major depressive disorder alone precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, while the evidence does not show improvement in his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine that would justify a reduction in rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24068576
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder/major depressive disorder/insomnia.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than April 9, 2024, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
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