The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, but denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and lateral collateral ligament sprain with instability, left ankle.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disability was productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a worklike setting. The other disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, Lateral collateral ligament sprain with instability, left ankle, Unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25011021
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.