The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and service connection for a right elbow disorder.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support the criteria for a higher rating or a finding of service connection due to the lack of in-service incurrence and no causal relationship established between the current conditions and military service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with arthritis, right elbow disorder (lateral epicondylitis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25046515
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the evaluation of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted, while other claims were remanded.
- Granted
The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities starting from April 20, 2010.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.