The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with panic disorder and service connection for cataract, left eye. The hypertension claim was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of major depressive disorder more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. Service connection for the cataract is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected condition. The hypertension claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with panic disorder, cataract, left eye
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25026457
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (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 A25026457.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's eye disabilities, specifically pseudophakia, cataract, glaucoma, hypersensitive retinopathy, optic atrophy, and color blindness. The VA is required to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing these issues.
- Granted
The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which rendered him unemployable. His TDIU claim for substitution purposes is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for sinus condition, hypertension, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral eye disorder (including dry eyes), bilateral cataracts, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, recurrent subluxation of left knee, post-operative left knee with DJD, right knee DJD, and right knee instability are remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM), burn scars of the bilateral ankles, tender left knee scar, and linear left knee scar is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current eye disabilities.
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