The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of the back disability most closely approximate the 20 percent rating criteria, while his left lower extremity radiculopathy does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. Service connection was granted based on the lay statements and positive medical nexus opinion from the private provider.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25106089
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 868 · Granted: 42% (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 A25106089.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, requires further review due to a duty-to-assist error related to missing VA treatment records and unverified in-service stressors.
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