The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's mood disorder and denied compensable evaluations for stooped posture associated with chronic constipation related to Parkinson's disease, as well as an increased rating for chronic constipation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms caused occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, which warranted a 70 percent evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. However, his stooped posture was not shown to be moderate (or worse) incomplete paralysis of the cranial nerves affecting the sternomastoid and trapezius muscles.
- Claimed conditions
- stooped posture (right side), stooped posture (left side), chronic constipation, mood disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25041016
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 845 · Granted: 39% (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 A25041016.
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 Veteran's partial pancreatectomy with chronic constipation is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current criteria. The Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU based on his mood disorder and anxiety, which was granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for asthma and a mood disorder, as well as TDIU benefits, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the appeal process.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.
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