The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left shoulder impingement syndrome were granted increased ratings, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted as secondary to the impact of his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating for both conditions based on the severity of symptoms reported by the Veteran during flare-ups, and granted service connection for the psychiatric condition due to its relationship with the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25052174
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for a left shoulder condition, as there was no evidence to support that his current disability was caused by VA treatment or related to his active military service.
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