The Board denied a rating greater than 40 percent for the Veteran's back condition and remanded claims for service connection for peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus, diverticulitis, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which would have warranted a higher rating. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to support service connection for peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus, diverticulitis, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with multilevel mild degenerative disc disease, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (diabetes), diverticulitis, coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25036255
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
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