The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and denied increased ratings for right shoulder instability, allergic rhinitis, scars, status post right shoulder arthroscopy, and staph MRSA. A separate compensable rating for a neurological disability of the right upper extremity was remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability or sufficient limitation in motion to warrant higher ratings for the other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, Status post miscarriage, Right shoulder instability, Allergic rhinitis, Scars, status post right shoulder arthroscopy, Staph Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25015787
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,990 · Granted: 35% (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 A25015787.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development. The Veteran contends his allergic rhinitis began during service, but VA medical opinions have found no link between his current condition and service.
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