The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar sprain and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) as the evidence did not support a higher rating during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of thoracolumbar sprain and TMJD did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes, with no significant functional impairment observed during flare-ups or repeated use testing.
- Claimed conditions
- temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), thoracolumbar sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25099868
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 931 · Granted: 42% (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 A25099868.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to the effective dates granted in earlier decisions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the VA examination relied upon for the current disability rating. The Veteran requests an increased rating based on flare-ups causing additional functional loss.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and restored the 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar sprain, effective June 1, 2024, while denying an increased rating. The Board also remanded a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar sprain, finding it to be related to an in-service back injury.
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