The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were mostly denied, but a rating of 90 percent for residuals of a right total hip replacement and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) were granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy as secondary to DDD of the lumbar spine were received on July 17, 2021, and entitlement arose on March 11, 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of a right total hip replacement, left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of adduction, left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion, left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, left flatfoot, residuals of an injury to the left thigh/leg and muscle groups XV, XVI and XVII, right hip surgical scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25003034
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 882 · Granted: 35% (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 A25003034.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
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