The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, denied a higher rating for the low back disability as of August 2, 2023, and granted ratings in excess of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Veteran was also granted TDIU.
The deciding factor: The psychiatric disability symptomatology more nearly approximated near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disability, Low Back Disability, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25048217
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,645 · Granted: 19% (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 A25048217.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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