The Board granted increased ratings for major depressive disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves), and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, but denied a higher rating for the same conditions from February 10, 2022.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, as well as severe radiculopathy symptoms, supported the granted ratings, while the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment or complete paralysis to warrant higher ratings.

Claimed conditions

major depressive disorder (MDD), left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (AJO)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 27, 2025

Citation

A25018182

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine