The Veteran's claim of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds the Veteran entitled to a 50 percent rating, and no higher, from May 30, 2014. Service connection claims for low back, cervical spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral shoulder conditions are remanded due to lack of VA examination. A new hearing loss and sinus condition claim is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disorder has been rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, resulting in a 50 percent rating since May 30, 2014. The Board found that his symptoms have consistently included depression, anxiety, flattened affect, and difficulty with concentration, which aligns with reduced reliability and productivity associated with a 50 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Other specified trauma or stressor related disorder with trauma related features, Persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2022
- Citation
- 22001866
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,893 · 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 22001866.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is found to have begun during service. Effective February 4, 2020, a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The effective date of the separate 20% rating for left lower radiculopathy remains January 14, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and GERD, effective December 30, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder, is granted a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.
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