The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that November 20, 2018 is the earliest possible effective date.
The deciding factor: The April 27, 2018 intent to file was absorbed by a complete claim on May 7, 2018 which did not include any mental health disability. The January 16, 2019 complete claim identified service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety as the benefit sought.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036538
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions and a psychiatric condition, all of which were determined to be caused by an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder was dismissed due to a procedural defect involving concurrent election of review options.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial, gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding the proposed reduction in evaluation of persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.
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