The Veteran's service-connected back disability was granted a 40 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the symptoms described were best reflected in a 40 percent disability rating due to significant limitation of functional ability during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD), intracranial meningioma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 4, 2025
- Citation
- 25013677
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (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 25013677.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease but remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of meningitis, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches with unspecified dizziness and TDIU was denied. The maximum schedular rating has been granted, but the Veteran is not entitled to an extra-schedular evaluation or TDIU due to his employment status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board finds that a remand is warranted to obtain missing STRs and private treatment records, as well as to schedule VA examinations for the left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy and cervical and lumbar disabilities.
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