The Board granted a 50 percent rating for depressive disorder, and also granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder as secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence demonstrated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms associated with the depressive disorder, warranting a higher initial rating of 50 percent. Additionally, there was evidence that the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder arose as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Left upper extremity peripheral nerves disability, Right upper extremity peripheral nerves disability, Depressive disorder, Unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25109233
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (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 A25109233.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, insomnia/sleep disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder (also claimed as anxiety, depression, and panic disorder) due to the Veteran's in-service stressful events.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Denied
The Veteran is found not competent to handle the disbursement of VA funds, and his appeal is denied.
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