The appeal as to the proposed reduction of the rating for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, mild disc bulge with moderate central disc protrusion L5-S1 is dismissed due to procedural issues. The claim for a higher rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The proposed reduction was not a final decision and the appeal was submitted prematurely.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, mild disc bulge with moderate central disc protrusion L5-S1, Sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25103141
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (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 A25103141.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for obstructive sleep apnea and has remanded the issues regarding lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, bladder and/or bowel disorder related to the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for PFB. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations as directed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder from May 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021; denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Board also granted 20 percent ratings for femoral nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, right lower extremity, left club foot with pes planus and plantar fasciitis, right club foot with pes planus and plantar fasciitis, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity from May 1, 2019 to February 4, 2022; denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain with degenerative arthritis and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity. Additionally, a TDIU claim is also being remanded due to the need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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