The Board granted service connection for lumbar pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right lower extremity, left sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran was also granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including symptoms such as anxiety, depression, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

Claimed conditions

unspecified depressive disorder, lumbar pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right lower extremity (secondary to lumbar pain), left sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity (secondary to lumbar pain), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (secondary to unspecified depressive disorder)

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

December 16, 2025

Citation

A25108468

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