The Board denied the appellant's eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in an increased rating decision for major depressive disorder.
The deciding factor: The August 2024 rating decision granting an increased rating was considered an initial decision, and attorneys may only charge fees after the Veteran is provided notice of the initial AOJ decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25040929
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
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.