The Board granted an evaluation of 40 percent for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and 40 percent for the status-post arthroscopy for adhesive capsulitis & debridement of partial labral tear (right shoulder) from June 2, 2021, to January 28, 2024.
The deciding factor: The most probative evidence demonstrated that the Veteran's service-connected conditions had been manifested by functional loss due to pain that most closely approximated the specified degrees of limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, status-post arthroscopy for adhesive capsulitis & debridement of partial labral tear (right shoulder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045155
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with facet arthropathy and lumbosacral strain, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (to include iliotibial band syndrome), and chronic right wrist sprain were denied. The Board also granted an effective date of July 7, 2023 for the award of increased ratings.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.
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