The Board granted a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity effective February 18, 2021, and granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, multilevel discogenic disease with C3-C4 disc extrusion, C4, C5-C6 disc protrusions and vertebral C5-C6 neural foramina narrowing, multilevel lumbar discogenic disease, L5-S1 herniated disc and L3 anterolisthesis, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, radiculopathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25045736
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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