Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Denied

The Veteran's MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The evidence shows occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, but no total occupational and social impairment.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's MDD causes symptoms like suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish effective relationships. However, these symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to lack of persistent danger of hurting self or others, disorientation, memory loss, or other severe symptomatology.

Claimed conditions
Major Depressive Disorder
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
70%
Decision date
December 10, 2024
Citation
A24081863

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 A24081863.

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.

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.