The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and type II diabetes mellitus, but granted an effective date of October 23, 2023, for special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance of another.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran required regulation of activities to control his DM2 or lost the use of his hands. However, VA received an Intent to File on October 23, 2023, which established this effective date for SMC based on the need of aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic orthopedic symptoms of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with spinal stenosis and spondylosis (lumbar spine disability), Type II diabetes mellitus type (DM2), Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25049645
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,113 · Granted: 47% (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 A25049645.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis of the liver were dismissed due to procedural deficiencies. The claims of entitlement to service connection for arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease, and bilateral lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded all five service connection claims due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain National Guard records for ADT or IDT. The Veteran's exposure to insecticides during his New York Air National Guard service is considered presumptive for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, CKD, COPD, and CLL.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and anemia, but remanded claims for chronic kidney disease, hematuria, and multiple myeloma.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability resulting from service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted from October 27, 2023, to January 16, 2024.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.