The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected depression, an earlier effective date of August 28, 2013, for TDIU and DEA benefits.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the symptoms of the service connected depression more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, which warranted a higher initial disability rating. The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, supporting the earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- dysthymia-persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress (depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25021311
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