The Board denied the claims for entitlement to increased ratings for a back condition and bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show forward flexion less than 30 degrees or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which are required for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Back condition (spinal stenosis, lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome), Left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- 25007968
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 2, 2023, for the grant of service connection for various conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reopen the previous denial of service connection for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the benefit sought has been fully granted.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
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