The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his acquired psychiatric disorders, as well as the issue of TDIU prior to September 2, 2019, were granted. The Veteran was also granted basic eligibility for DEA benefits.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence rebutted the presumption of regularity regarding the denial in 2013 and granted an earlier effective date based on a liberalizing law allowing for one year prior to the claim being filed, as well as granting a maximum schedular rating due to the severity of his symptoms.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Cannabis use disorder in remission

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

100%

Decision date

December 9, 2025

Citation

A25106000

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine