The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include recurrent major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was caused by or incurred during his active duty service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- obsessive compulsive disorder, recurrent major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2025
- Citation
- A25094811
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25094811.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion and to obtain any outstanding treatment records from Dr. Levi Kirkland.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for higher SMC was denied as his need for aid and attendance is already covered by the current rate, and he does not meet criteria for additional rates based on blindness or loss of use.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and anxiety, is considered to have resulted from events that occurred during his active military service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.