The Board granted service connection for right and left chronic achilles tendonitis, right and left hand rheumatoid arthritis, Steven Johnson Syndrome, and an initial rating of 70 percent for Other Specified Trauma and Stressor-related disorder. The back disability claim was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions were granted based on a finding that they are at least as likely as not caused by service, with the exception of the back disability which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- right chronic achilles tendonitis, left chronic achilles tendonitis, right hand rheumatoid arthritis, left hand rheumatoid arthritis, Steven Johnson Syndrome, Other Specified Trauma and Stressor-related disorder (claimed as Acquired Psych disorder to include Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD), Degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25058800
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 896 · Granted: 51% (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 A25058800.
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 passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for left ankle and right hand rheumatoid arthritis as they were already pending at the AOJ.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and related disabilities are found to prevent him from working, and the case is being referred for extraschedular consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, including hands, knees, elbows, feet, and shoulders, due to herbicide exposure. The case requires an addendum opinion from a medical professional to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.
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