The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, and did not grant a rating higher than 20 percent for a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis or any of the other remanded claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized anxiety disorder, Major depressive disorder, Right lower extremity varicose veins, Left lower extremity varicose veins, Right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis, Painful right ankle scars, Left knee instability, Left knee meniscal tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25033600
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 initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 9, 2022, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating higher than 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.
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