The Board granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder, and assigned a 70 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with mild alcohol use disorder. The claims for increased ratings for the right shoulder strain and IBS were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric condition, but not for the right shoulder or IBS conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with mild alcohol use disorder, right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder, bilateral wrist condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25037764
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.
- 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.
- 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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