The Veteran's PTSD and MDD do not result in total occupational and social impairment, but the right knee conditions are rated at their highest level of disability.
The deciding factor: PTSD with MDD does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not cause total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26003895
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 A26003895.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder) is rated at 70 percent since October 5, 2015. This decision grants a higher initial rating for the condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder, moderate, with anxious distress, and alcohol use disorder is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for complex regional pain syndrome, left 4th digit, left 5th digit, right 4th digit, and right 5th digit are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, as well as entitlement to TDIU and SMC.
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