The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative changes in the lower lumbar spine, and narcolepsy are service-connected. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disability was found to be secondary to his service-connected degenerative changes in the lower lumbar spine and narcolepsy, with symptoms exacerbated by medications taken for those conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, Degenerative changes in the lower lumbar spine, significant neural foraminal narrowing, Narcolepsy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25108852
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 719 · Granted: 54% (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 A25108852.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if he should receive a higher rating. The issue of whether he qualifies for total disability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 18, 2019, is also being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder and Narcolepsy have been rated at 70 percent effective February 21, 2022. Effective April 19, 2023, the Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for traumatic brain injury, migraines, and narcolepsy due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's service connection claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy as further development is needed to provide an adequate opinion.
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