The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU, finding that his symptoms of major depressive disorder and right knee osteoarthritis did not warrant higher disability ratings.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's MDD symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was manifested by painful but full range of motion even when considering additional functional impairment. The evidence also showed that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent with anxious distress (MDD or depression), Right Knee Osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25054924
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 Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for a more comprehensive medical examination and opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder prior to September 10, 2022, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.
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