The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the degenerative arthritis DDD other than IVDS with chronic lumbar syndrome since May 1, 2023, and remanded claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, skin condition, and neck condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability manifested in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, warranting an increased rating. The other claims were remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis DDD other than IVDS with chronic lumbar syndrome, Gastrointestinal condition (also claimed as a stomach condition, an intestinal/bowel condition, a colon condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD]), Skin condition (claimed as body sores), Neck condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25104538
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,081 · Granted: 38% (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 A25104538.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck conditions are not related to her active duty service, but has remanded for further examination regarding her bilateral shoulder conditions, knee conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, and GERD.
- Granted
The Veteran's DDD status post left sided L4-L5 microdiscectomy is granted an increased evaluation of 60 percent, effective March 16, 2021. The service connection for a neck condition is denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for various conditions have been remanded multiple times, and as a result, the appeals are dismissed.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal fusion and a neck condition, finding that these conditions are related to his active service.
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