The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and thoracic spondylosis. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, was remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition as measured by forward flexion, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating but warranted a 20 percent evaluation. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder was remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), thoracic spondylosis, respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25057409
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic pain syndrome, sciatic radicular pain of both legs, traumatic brain injury (TBI), shin splints of both legs, thoracic spondylosis, right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, acne, and allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board grants service connection for thoracic spondylosis based on the Veteran's reported continuous back symptoms since service and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to a clear and unmistakable error in a July 1981 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.
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