The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or other symptoms severe enough to warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, recurrent with anxious distress, plantar fasciitis including bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and residuals of left great toe fracture, bilateral temporomandibular (TMD) joint dysfunction with nocturnal bruxism, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis including disc space narrowing, left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, thoracolumbar strain including degenerative arthritis, uterine fibroid
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24070515
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from April 15, 2017, solely based on his unspecified anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.
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