The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 40 percent from August 4, 2017, to January 8, 2024, and the claim for a higher rating since January 9, 2024, was denied. The Veteran's TDIU effective date was granted as of July 3, 2020.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease from August 4, 2017, to January 8, 2024, but did not warrant a higher rating since January 9, 2024. The Veteran met the criteria for TDIU as of July 3, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, rotator cuff tear, right shoulder, patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee, residuals of right ankle bursitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy illio-inguinal nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy illio-inguinal nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- 25003543
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 828 · Granted: 42% (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 25003543.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left and right knees due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to dress, undress, bathe, groom himself, prepare meals, and transport himself without the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance since October 10, 2012.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new VA examination to determine their etiology.
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