The appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased disability rating (including earlier effective date) for major depressive disorder, with mood-congruent psychotic features, is dismissed as the Veteran has been granted these benefits in full.
The deciding factor: The appeal on the merits is moot by virtue of the prior grant of service connection and maximum benefit allowed under the law from the earliest effective date allowable under the law.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, major depressive disorder, with mood-congruent psychotic features
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24070900
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.