The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's range of motion was functionally limited to a degree that would support a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25049665
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25049665.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted, and his increased rating claim for the lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021, is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied a higher rating for the appellant's service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021 and from May 4, 2021. The issues of service connection for left arm disability, hypertension, heart disorder, and TDIU are remanded due to need for further development.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 18, 2014, in excess of 20 percent from June 18, 2014 to April 26, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine status post lumbar fusion, is etiologically related to in-service injuries consistent with his combat service in Southwest Asia. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
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