The Board granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for thoracic muscle strain but denied a higher rating. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's thoracic muscle strain met the criteria for a 20 percent rating, while her left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracic muscle strain, Left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25104639
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,135 · Granted: 33% (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 A25104639.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including right and left upper extremity radiculopathies, is granted as service connected. The issues of right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection, but the claims are being remanded due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent for the right (major) upper extremity and 30 percent for the left (minor) upper extremity.
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