The appeal for service connection for COPD, a right hand disability, and a left hand disability was denied. The appeal for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was dismissed. Service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), as well as knee instability, was granted with specific ratings.,The Veteran's right hand disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's left hand disability is not related to service.,The appeal for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been dismissed.,A 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), was granted from February 22, 2022. A 20 percent rating for right knee instability and left knee instability was granted from March 7, 2021.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's COPD and her military service. There is no indication of COPD during service or within one year after discharge, and the first evidence of COPD appears in 2014.,There is no evidence to suggest that the Veteran's right hand disability is related to her military service.,There is no evidence to suggest that the Veteran's left hand disability is related to her military service.,The Veteran withdrew her appeal for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) during a May 2025 hearing.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), as well as knee instability, more closely approximate the criteria for higher ratings from specific dates.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Right hand disability, Left hand disability, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), Right knee instability, Left knee instability, Degenerative joint disease with limited extension of the right knee, Degenerative joint disease with limited extension of the left knee, Degenerative joint disease with limited flexion of the right knee, Degenerative joint disease with limited flexion of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25087951
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,772 · Granted: 37% (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 A25087951.
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.
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The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.
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The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
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