Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Partly granted

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability and a 40 percent rating from February 5, 2021 to March 18, 2024 for the low back disability. Service connection was also granted for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability met the criteria for a 20 percent rating due to limited motion and pain, while the low back disability warranted higher ratings based on functional limitations during specific periods.

Claimed conditions
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Right Ankle Disability, Low Back Disability, Sciatic Nerve Condition in Left Lower Extremity, Sciatic Nerve Condition in Right Lower Extremity, 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 24, 2025
Citation
A25054443

Veterans Law Judge

MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER

Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (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 A25054443.

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.

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.