The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent from July 11, 2019 for unspecified depressive and anxiety disorder as the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
The deciding factor: The lack of reported suicidal ideation after September 2019 contradicted the Veteran's statement that he still struggles with suicidal ideation daily, and there was no evidence of impaired impulse control as contemplated by the rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive and anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25041215
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 an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's unspecified depressive and anxiety disorder prior to May 19, 2022.
- Partly granted
The veteran's rating for unspecified depressive and anxiety disorder was increased to 100%. Other issues related to ankle and knee strains were remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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