The appeal regarding the reduction of the disability rating for persistent depressive disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the appeal in March 2024.
The deciding factor: The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran, satisfying the criteria for withdrawal under 38 C.F.R. § 20.205.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25022311
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and persistent depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental health difficulties began during active service.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed due to mootness.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for fibromyalgia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis, and denied a 100 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder. The claims for service connection were remanded.
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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.