The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and granted special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance. The claim for service connection for hypertension was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, but he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder (also claimed as depression and sleep), hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis in his bilateral hands, elbows, and fingers (cramps, pain, weakened grip strength), asthma, right and left median nerve carpal tunnel syndrome, left hamstring tendonitis, residuals of right hamstring injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25052333
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
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