The Board granted an effective date of April 21, 2022, for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder.
The deciding factor: The VA Form 21-526EZ submitted on April 21, 2022, was considered a supplemental claim and met the criteria for an earlier effective date under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25090411
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (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 A25090411.
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 service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and sleep apnea, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent. He is already receiving special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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