The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a compensable rating for right ear otalgia.
The deciding factor: The probative medical evidence did not show sufficient limitation of motion or other symptoms to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right ear otalgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25097874
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 344 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25097874.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40% evaluation from October 6, 2015 to November 5, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for left knee and right leg conditions due to insufficient evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear otalgia and events in service. Further development is needed.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.