The Board granted initial ratings of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, 60 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, status post spinal fusion, and 40 percent for radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claim for a compensable rating for scar on back was denied, and TDIU was granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder manifested through occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, which warranted an initial 50 percent rating. For the degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, status post spinal fusion, the evidence supported a 60 percent rating based on the severity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), status post spinal fusion, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, scar on back, unspecified depressive disorder (claimed as major depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25040607
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,960 · Granted: 36% (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 A25040607.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, lower back condition, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeal issues as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine and secondary service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for individual unemployability (TDIU) and service connection for sinusitis and abdominal pain, residuals, removal of colon, severe constipation were dismissed due to duty to assist errors found in the August 2021 rating decision.,Residuals of a menstrual disorder, to include status post hysterectomy; residuals, removal of gallbladder; GERD with acid reflux disease and epigastric pain; lumbar spine condition; radiculopathy, right lower extremity; radiculopathy, left lower extremity; dry eye syndrome; left knee pain; right shoulder pain; left shoulder pain; and right ankle condition were all granted.
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