The Board denied an increased initial evaluation for major depressive disorder (MDD) with anxious distress, which is currently rated at 70 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment as required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder (MDD) with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25102714
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 258 · Granted: 30% (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 A25102714.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will obtain VA medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's current conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues on appeal for correction of a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and special monthly compensation claims.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder (MDD) with anxious distress and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
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