The Board denied an evaluation greater than 50 percent for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the Veteran's symptoms not causing a level of impairment required for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher; they more closely approximated the symptoms associated with a 50 percent rating, and resulted in a level of impairment that most closely approximated the level of impairment associated with a 50 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (also claimed as insomnia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25028619
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.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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