The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but denied increased ratings for COPD, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, migraine with chronic headaches, and residuals of a right ankle fracture. The Veteran was granted TDIU from January 12, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for COPD, rhinitis, sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, migraine with chronic headaches, and residuals of a right ankle fracture. However, it was determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his radiculopathy, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.
- Claimed conditions
- Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity based upon impairment of the femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity based upon impairment of the femoral nerve, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity based upon impairment of the sciatic nerve, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity based upon impairment of the sciatic nerve, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Chronic rhinitis, Chronic sinusitis, Lumbosacral strain, Migraine with chronic headaches, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Residuals of a right ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25085595
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 998 · Granted: 40% (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 A25085595.
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 Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
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