The veteran's claims for higher disability ratings were denied, but the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance was granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the criteria for higher disability ratings or an earlier effective date for TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- low back strain with degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with cervical intervertebral disc syndrome, left clavicle fracture with degenerative arthritis of the shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2025
- Citation
- 25000054
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,038 · Granted: 30% (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 25000054.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of migraines, low back strain with degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to address range of motion testing, functional loss during flare-ups, and other relevant factors.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back strain with degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD, and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 21, 2016. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The TDIU will be granted but without an effective date.
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