The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis for the lumbar strain with spondylosis, nor was there evidence supporting a higher rating for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with spondylosis, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25052180
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 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as special monthly compensation and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for entitlement to service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinitis, lumbar spondylolisthesis and spondylosis, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, migraines, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the appellant's military service. The claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, cervical strain, lumbar strain, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy, right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, left knee disability, and right ankle disability were remanded for further development.
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