The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE), migraine headaches, and thoracic spine disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a higher rating based on limited range of motion or other criteria for lumbar spine spondylolisthesis. Service connection was denied as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for radiculopathy, migraine headaches, or thoracic spine disorder. The Veteran's current disorders were found to be unrelated to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity), migraine headaches, degenerative disc changes to thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20030897
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20030897.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of February 28, 2023.
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