The Board granted service connection for varicose veins of the lower extremities and denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for a mental health disability.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on secondary causation by obesity, which itself is linked to the Veteran's service-connected mental health disability. An increased rating was not supported due to the severity of symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- mental health disability (major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with anxious features), varicose veins of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25106934
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (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 A25106934.
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 service connection for varicose veins of the lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral lower extremity varicose veins are related to his service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from the Atlanta VAMC and Dr. George.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right shoulder disability, hypertension, heart disability (mitral valve prolapse), PTSD, TBI, lumbar strain, and need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current peripheral neuropathy disability of the lower extremities and is therefore not entitled to service connection for this condition. The left knee disability has been productive of extension limited to 20 degrees and symptomatic partially removed semilunar cartilage, warranting a rating in excess of 30 percent.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.