The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent rating, while the low back condition and associated radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. SMC at the housebound rate was also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, justifying a 100 percent rating; however, his low back condition did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain (low back condition), Left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with low back condition, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder, Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with low back condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25023036
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · 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 A25023036.
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 Veteran's PTSD warranted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for the period prior to August 8, 2019. The Board also granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance from July 14, 2014.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, and service connection for left and right lower extremity restless leg syndrome.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased disability ratings for various conditions due to a failure to substantially comply with previous directives.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder and denied higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as various peripheral neuropathies. The decision also addressed TDIU, Dependents' Educational Assistance, and SMC.
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