The Board granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD; a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability); and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a 20 percent rating or higher for the same condition, and any other initial ratings for the right knee disability under other Diagnostic Codes pertaining to the knee and leg. A 10 percent rating was granted for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those associated with a 70 percent rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, a 40 percent rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant higher ratings or additional ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis), Left sciatic radiculopathy, Lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability), Major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD, Right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, Right sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25048620
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 907 · Granted: 35% (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 A25048620.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left sciatic radiculopathy were granted effective from March 17, 2015.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of March 27, 2020, for the grant of service connection for IVDS with spondylosis and denied earlier effective dates for left and right sciatic radiculopathy. The Board also denied increased ratings for IVDS with spondylosis and sciatic radiculopathies and granted a TDIU from June 1, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for liver and kidney disabilities but granted a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to February 3, 2017, a 50 percent rating for a back disability, and a 20 percent rating for left sciatic radiculopathy from July 22, 2008.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and sciatic radiculopathy, effective March 8, 2023, but remanded earlier effective date claims.
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