The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder and assigned a 20% disability rating, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, higher ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, and migraine headaches.
The deciding factor: The evidence was approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his active duty service, leading to a grant with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Fatigue symptoms were attributed to major depressive disorder, and there was no evidence supporting a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), Disability manifested by fatigue, Bilateral hearing loss, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Lumbosacral strain, Migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25101791
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.