The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and service connection with an effective date of November 24, 2008. The Board also granted initial ratings of 40 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) and denied higher ratings for the femoral conditions.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms associated with major depressive disorder and the initial manifestation of radiculopathy in the lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Sciatic), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Sciatic), Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Femoral), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Femoral)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25085556
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (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 A25085556.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is found to have begun during their active duty service and continues to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI is rated at 70 percent, but the appeal for a higher rating is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected MDD with PTSD was denied. The evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, despite the Veteran maintaining full-time employment.
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