The Board denied increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability, residual scars associated with the lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria for evaluating spinal disabilities and related conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) with L5-S1 disc protrusion, Residual scars associated with DDD with L5-S1 disc protrusion, Right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2025
- Citation
- 25009275
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as effective dates for TDIU and DEA, due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.
- Granted
The Board granted the restoration of a 20% rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, while denying service connection for vertigo.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40% rating for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and TDIU, but denied increased ratings for the back condition, lumbar scar, and other hip conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability but denied it for his right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.
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