The Board granted a 50% rating for lumbosacral strain, a separate 10% rating for left knee instability, and a 30% rating for tension headaches. The other claims were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested in symptoms that are the functional equivalent of unfavorable ankylosis, warranting a 50% rating. The left knee strain was not shown to meet criteria for higher ratings or separate compensable instability. The tension headaches met criteria for a 30% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (claimed as DJD lumbar spine), left knee strain limitation of motion (claimed as DJD left knee), left wrist chronic sprain (claimed as DJD left wrist), right wrist chronic sprain (claimed as DJD right wrist), tension headaches, exertional asthma, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25056517
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 appeal for service connection for migraine headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's headache disability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches, alternatively diagnosed as migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a retrospective medical assessment regarding the severity of the Veteran's headaches without medication to determine if an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating is warranted.
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.