The Board granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, and for right and left knee degenerative arthritis post knee replacements.
The deciding factor: The private opinion by provider G.M. is adequate for appellate review and supports a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, Total left knee arthroplasty, degenerative arthritis, Total right knee arthroplasty, degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25104622
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 878 · Granted: 46% (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 A25104622.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, but denied higher ratings and increased initial ratings for other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent since February 26, 2018. He also received separate ratings for his left and right femoral nerve radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent should be granted due to limitations in forward flexion.
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