The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the pendency of the appeal.
The deciding factor: The Veteran passed away while the appeal was pending, and per VA regulations, the Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim at this time and must dismiss the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26003471
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26003471.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from February 18, 2019 to August 24, 2022.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU, finding that his psychiatric disorder did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations or a total disability rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with depressive disorder, finding that the current 70 percent disability rating adequately compensates the Veteran for his psychiatric symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, from February 2, 2018, but denied an increased rating for PTSD with depressive disorder.
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