The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other issues, including TDIU and special monthly compensation.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for the service-connected conditions as they were found to be at their maximum schedular ratings or did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder, painful/tender scar, left foot, residual scars to the left foot and right foot, healed chip fracture, right ankle, scarring of the interphalangeal joint and pads of the right great toe, left foot transmetatarsal amputation prior to March 1, 2016, and greater than 40 percent since March 1, 2016, extension of a temporary total rating for left foot transmetatarsal amputation beyond February 29, 2016, left ankle strain prior to February 22, 2011, and greater than 10 percent from February 25, 2021, left knee strain (claimed as left knee condition, chondromalacia patellae), right knee strain (claimed as right knee condition, chondromalacia patellae), total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 4, 2015, increased level of special monthly compensation (SMC)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25040385
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 284 · Granted: 35% (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 A25040385.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for depressive disorder, effective August 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper and did not comply with applicable regulations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, kleptomania, and PTSD is being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to obtain medical records from his periods of incarceration or a medical opinion regarding his diagnoses.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted service connection for migraine headaches effective August 10, 2022.,The Veteran was granted service connection for depressive disorder effective April 11, 2024.
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