The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning August 14, 2018, and special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning July 23, 2019. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's major depressive disorder did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, and he was already receiving the maximum rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The knee ligamentous strains only caused slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, without additional functional loss due to pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Bilateral pes planus, Left knee ligamentous strain with instability, Right knee ligamentous strain with effusion and instability, Left knee ligamentous strain with limitation of flexion, Right knee ligamentous strain with effusion and limitation of flexion, Left knee ligamentous strain with limitation of extension, Obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected disabilities), Fibromyalgia (secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and knee disabilities), Left ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25097647
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 281 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25097647.
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 Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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