The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lumbar radiculopathy, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The June 2023 Back VA examination report indicated mild symptoms and did not meet criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- left lumbar radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 29, 2025
- Citation
- A25038925
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and CFS. The Veteran's hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, shoulder disability, knee meniscal tear, knee limitation of extension, knee scars, GERD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and PTSD were also not rated higher than their current levels.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a back condition and left lumbar radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including trochanteric pain syndrome and bursitis, degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis and disc bulge, right thumb ulnar collateral ligament tear, and lumbar radiculopathy, all effective April 16, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 30, 2016 for the award of service connection for left lumbar radiculopathy and a 40 percent rating for lumbar degenerative joint disease to include lumbar spondylosis from that date. The claims for increased ratings for right elbow conditions were denied.
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