The Veteran's UDD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his psychiatric signs and symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examinations and treatment records did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity or total occupational and social impairment due to UDD, which is required for higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Unspecified depressive disorder (UDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2024
- Citation
- A24075483
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 913 · Granted: 41% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24075483.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, UDD, and AUD due to insufficient evidence of in-service combat or corroborated stressors.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder. The earliest effective date is set to July 1, 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD, UDD, and right index trigger finger conditions have been granted increased ratings. The ED condition remains at a non-compensable rating. Effective April 9, 2017, the Veteran is now eligible for a 30% disability rating for his UDD.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for migraine headaches and unspecified depressive disorder (UDD) have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.