The Board granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, a post-surgical low back scar, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities. It also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical spine disc protrusions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected low back DDD was found to be the cause of the other conditions, thus supporting secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, post-surgical low back scar, status post L4/L5 diskectomy and laminectomy, sciatic radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity, sciatic radiculopathy of the LEFT lower extremity, cervical spine disc protrusions, LEFT foot plantar fasciitis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) with psychotic features, post-surgical scars of the RIGHT ankle, painful post-surgical scars of the RIGHT ankle, post-surgical scars of the RIGHT shoulder, painful post-surgical scars of the RIGHT shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25029989
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 A25029989.
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 service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, increased the rating for PTSD from 50 percent to 70 percent from September 1, 2017 to July 8, 2019, granted TDIU effective January 1, 2014, and awarded SMC based on housebound status effective September 1, 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma and bilateral foot conditions (plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and hallux valgus) have been granted. The effective dates are March 10, 2015.
- Granted
The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the LEFT and RIGHT lower extremities, as well as his IVDS of the lumbar spine, have been granted increased ratings. The highest possible rating for IVDS based on incapacitating episodes is now in effect.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development due to a procedural error, including securing relevant VA examinations that were not submitted by the Veteran but rather secured by the AOJ. The AOJ must consider this evidence and provide the Veteran and his attorney an opportunity to respond before appellate consideration.
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