The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, an earlier effective date, and a higher initial rating for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the presence of a current disability characterized by nerve pain throughout the body or that the Veteran met the criteria for an earlier effective date. The severity of his psychiatric symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, warranting a 30 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Nerve pain throughout body, Persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25047073
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 bilateral tinnitus and an initial 70 percent rating, but not higher, for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating greater than 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that his symptoms more closely approximated those associated with a 70 percent rating.
- Partly granted
The Board denied initial ratings greater than 70 percent for unspecified stressor and trauma disorder and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with herbicide exposure, greater than 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy as a residual of stroke, greater than 10 percent for residuals of stroke other than right lower extremity radiculopathy, and greater than 10 percent rating for hypertension. However, the Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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