The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left arms, tension headaches, and unspecified anxiety disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show severe incomplete paralysis in either arm or very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability for the headache disability. The psychiatric disability did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent prior to June 28, 2021, nor was it shown to be more disabling since that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, Tension headaches, Unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2025
- Citation
- 25006994
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a rating of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disorders effective July 20, 2022, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 for the same effective date.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for depressive disorder, and also granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder as secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, for further development of evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected left upper extremity radiculopathy, effective from August 3, 2023.
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