The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings under applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show muscle spasms or guarding, any form of spinal ankylosis (or its functional equivalent), or incapacitating episodes of IVDS during the appeal period, which are required for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula and IVDS Formula.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic nerve paralysis, migraines, bilateral lower extremity (BLLE) stress fractures, rhinitis status post rhinoplasty and septoplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25037929
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.
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The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Partly granted
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