The Board granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance, but denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for the service-connected major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their severity, frequency, or duration; however, his disability alone prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 22, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25026746
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (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 A25026746.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 3, 2013 was denied as there were no service-connected disabilities prior to that date.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claims for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, and remanded the claims for initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and hemorrhoids.
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.