The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, which is claimed as depression, and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion provided more weight to the claim that the Veteran's somatic symptom disorder was due to his service-connected disabilities, while the VA examination did not find a direct link. The Board found the evidence in equipoise and granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310(a).
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder, right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25027863
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for somatic symptom disorder, respiratory disorders (including COPD), nephrolithiasis, deviated nasal septum, and higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and GERD, hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis and service connection for vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2021 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance but denied a higher rating than 50 percent for somatic symptom disorder from June 13, 2024 to February 12, 2025.
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