The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, effective from March 19, 2018. Additionally, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted from October 13, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder produced occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The evidence showed symptoms of suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25107022
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 252 · Granted: 33% (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 A25107022.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, but granted service connection for headaches. The Board also denied increased ratings for a left shoulder disorder and tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to schedule a VA examination and obtain a medical opinion, as new and relevant evidence has been received since the last final denial.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left hand condition, right knee condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as lifted the bar to VA benefits due to mitigating circumstances.
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