The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for the acquired mental disorder and dismissed appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates related to lumbar radiculopathy and DEA eligibility.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an earlier effective date than November 11, 2021, for the increased rating of the acquired mental disorder, as it was received in November 2021 and continuously pursued since then.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder, anxious distress, agoraphobia, posttraumatic and social phobic features, insomnia (acquired mental disorder), lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity, basic eligibility to dependents' educational assistance
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25028360
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and persistent depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental health difficulties began during active service.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed due to mootness.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for fibromyalgia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis, and denied a 100 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder. The claims for service connection were remanded.
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