The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety and depressive disorders, but granted a more favorable effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of new and material evidence within one year of notice regarding the effective date, and the presence of symptoms prior to the assigned effective date for the right lower extremity condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Unspecified anxiety disorder, Unspecified depressive disorder, Radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve (right lower extremity), Radiculopathy of the femoral nerve (right lower extremity), Radiculopathy of the femoral nerve (left lower extremity), Swollen esophagus with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25017971
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,963 · Granted: 32% (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 A25017971.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, insomnia/sleep disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder (also claimed as anxiety, depression, and panic disorder) due to the Veteran's in-service stressful events.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder has rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, which the Board finds meets the criteria for a TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim is also being considered for secondary service connection of his psychiatric disorder to a service-connected left knee disability.
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