The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, denied a higher rating for the low back disability as of August 2, 2023, and granted ratings in excess of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Veteran was also granted TDIU.
The deciding factor: The psychiatric disability symptomatology more nearly approximated near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disability, Low Back Disability, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25048217
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 Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, bronchitis, liver abscess, abdominal aorta, left and right hamstring disabilities. The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy but denied all other claims.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and remanded several service connection claims, including dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an initial compensable rating for GERD was withdrawn, and the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, and right knee disability were denied.
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