The Veteran's TDIU for major depression and PTSD is granted effective November 2011, creating eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.,SMC is granted effective September 24, 2013, due to the combination of her service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on her major depression and PTSD alone, which precluded her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of November 2011. SMC is granted because her additional service-connected disabilities meet the '60 percent' requirement effective September 24, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26014153
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 A26014153.
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 Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Panic Disorder due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to a verified in-service stressor, and the positive and negative medical evidence is at least in equipoise.
- Granted
Your claim for a higher rating and service connection for PTSD has been granted. The new evidence supports reopening your case.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
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