The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain with IVDS and L4-L5 herniated intervertebral disc were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating more than 30 percent for his service-connected mental health condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of depression and anxiety did not meet the criteria for higher ratings as they did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity or worse.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26038558
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 A26038558.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service, as well as secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that it is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim will be further evaluated with a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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