The Veteran's lower back disability is increased to 20 percent disabling, and the service connection for right ear hearing loss and cervical strain is granted.,The appeal for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied.,The appeals for service connection for left ear hearing loss, CFS, constipation, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating/GERD, and respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea) were denied.,Service connection for dry eyes is granted, and the right hip pain is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a 20 percent rating based on the limitation of motion in the lower back.,There was no evidence supporting a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,The evidence did not support service connection for the other conditions appealed.,Service connection is granted for dry eyes, and right hip pain is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis, IVDS, radiculopathy, left lower extremity, hearing loss, left ear, right ear hearing loss, cervical strain, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), constipation, dry eyes, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating/GERD, pseudofolliculitis barbae, radicular pain, right upper extremity, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), right hip pain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25093496
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 948 · Granted: 52% (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 A25093496.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for onychomycosis was denied as the condition did not require treatment and covered less than 5% of his body. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss, and the case is dismissed.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no evidence of a current disability in the record.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
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.