The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. However, it granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions due to their current severity, but functional impairment from his DJD of the lumbar spine was sufficient to grant TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, Right Lower Extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, Depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25043966
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 Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent disability rating from April 27, 2020 to August 15, 2022, and a TDIU was also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 14, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spinal fusion and lumbar disc disease with stenosis, as well as associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left and right lower extremities, and depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to verify periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA from 1998 to 2006 and to obtain a new VA examination.
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