The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder unspecified, finding that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's associated symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher; they more closely approximated the symptoms associated with a 50 percent rating, resulting in a level of impairment that most closely approximated the level of impairment associated with a 50 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder unspecified
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25087821
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,592 · Granted: 19% (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 A25087821.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.
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