The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and trauma and stressor-related disorder was granted with an effective date of June 30, 2022. An initial rating higher than 50 percent prior to January 22, 2024, is denied. From January 22, 2024, a 70 percent rating for the psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU was dismissed as it was granted effective from June 30, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to January 22, 2024, but did find sufficient evidence to grant a 70 percent rating starting from that date. The Veteran's TDIU was also dismissed as it had already been granted effective June 30, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, trauma and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26014089
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 A26014089.
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 Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective May 6, 2015.,Effective May 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to reflect his disability picture.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is granted, while the claim for PTSD remains denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence and in-service stressor confirmation.
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