The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the criteria for evaluating musculoskeletal disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine and other conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes due to insufficient limitation of motion or other relevant factors.
- Claimed conditions
- levoscoliosis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine, left ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of flexion), left hip ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of extension), left hip ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of adduction/abduction), right ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of flexion), right hip ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of extension), right hip ischial tuberosity bursitis (limitation of adduction/abduction), patellofemoral arthrosis right knee with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left tarsal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25046622
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 Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) effective from August 14, 2013, but denied higher initial ratings for the sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dermatochalasis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right shoulder tendinopathy, diabetes, and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence status-post prostatectomy were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), finding that his symptoms were no worse than mild incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and TDIU, but readjudicated a previously denied service connection claim for ischemic heart disease.
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