The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective September 28, 2020, and granted service connection for fibromyalgia. The other claims were either denied or remanded.
The deciding factor: The reduction in the rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine was improper as it did not consider whether the improvement would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life, while the grant of service connection for fibromyalgia was supported by evidence showing a diagnosis and onset prior to December 31, 2026.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative arthritis of the spine, herpes simplex 2, right ankle strain with myofascial pain syndrome, left ankle strain with myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, right ankle polyarthritis, left ankle polyarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049258
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for fibromyalgia and Gulf War unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, bronchus, as well as an extension of the temporary 100 percent disability evaluation.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of the condition.
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