The Veteran was granted a disability evaluation of 20 percent for lumbar spine strain residuals prior to February 10, 2020, and entitlement to TDIU. The rating in excess of 20 percent on and after February 10, 2020, for the same condition was denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine strain residuals did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the lack of evidence supporting forward flexion of 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least two weeks but less than four weeks during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar spine strain residuals, Schizoaffective disorder, Tinnitus, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Appendectomy residuals, Right index finger laceration residuals, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2025
- Citation
- 25006241
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 denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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