The Veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain and major depressive episodes, effective May 6, 2021. The right ankle debridement of arthritis, post traumatic, was denied a higher rating, while service connection was granted for right knee pain but denied for low back pain and radiculopathy in the lower right extremity.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of somatic symptom disorder symptoms causing total social and occupational impairment, while other conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain and major depressive episodes, right ankle debridement of arthritis, post traumatic, right knee pain, low back pain, radiculopathy, lower right extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25042360
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee pain as there was no evidence of record to support a finding that the Veteran's current knee pain began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome with pinguecula, while denying service connection for other psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection and initial ratings were dismissed due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) being filed more than one year after the November 2022 rating decision.
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