The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 13, 2022, for lumbar strain and bilateral facet hypertrophy.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's lumbar strain and bilateral facet hypertrophy warranted a higher rating based on the criteria provided by the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, bilateral facet hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25052072
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions and examination reports to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and TDIU due to missing records.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, and left knee strain. The initial rating period from March 5, 2024, was denied for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during active service.
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