The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar laminectomy procedures scar.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warranted higher ratings during the appeal period based on the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with scoliosis, Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), Residual scars status post lumbar laminectomy procedures
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- 25007078
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 835 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 25007078.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with scoliosis is granted, and an effective date of August 23, 2022, is established.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ is directed to obtain an addendum medical opinion that addresses the extent of flareups experienced by the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and anxiety is granted. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee condition, and OSA are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
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