The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, low back disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran was also granted an initial 70 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's low back, right shoulder, and bilateral foot conditions had their onset in service, and reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran. For the major depressive disorder, the evidence more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, low back disability (mild posterior disc bulge and annular tear at L5-S1 with transitional lumbosacral junction), right shoulder disability (rotator cuff tendonitis), bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25045730
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.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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