The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and persistent mood disorder, granted a 40 percent initial rating for low back disability, and denied initial ratings higher than 10 percent for plantar fasciitis and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient symptoms, while his low back disability met the criteria for a 40 percent rating based on limited forward flexion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (low back disability), Plantar fasciitis, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and persistent mood disorder, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25109050
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (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 A25109050.
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 service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and dismissed the proposed severance of service connection for plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is considered to have started during his period of active duty for training.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral foot pain disorder related to service and denied the claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his spine and radiculopathy conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU.
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