The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and bilateral knee disabilities, has been denied. The claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disorders is granted effective June 1, 2020.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and no other conditions met the required criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2024
- Citation
- A24080005
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 A24080005.
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 Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was rated at 100% effective October 10, 2018. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred within one year prior to this date and granted an earlier effective date of September 21, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for essential tremors prior to October 5, 2021 was denied. The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating greater than 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress prior to October 5, 2021 was also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the AOJ's failure to provide adequate VA medical opinions for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus constitutes a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist, requiring remand.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims due to errors in obtaining relevant service treatment records and post-service mental health treatment records, as well as for an additional medical examination regarding tinnitus.
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