The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain was denied, while other issues were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show the Veteran's back disability manifested in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less even when considering flareups and functional impairment on use; ankylosis; or incapacitating episodes of IVDS having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during any 12-month period.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain, migraines, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and major depressive disorder), right hand and finger disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25105661
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,272 · Granted: 31% (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 A25105661.
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Related decisions
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The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Dismissed
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- Granted
The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's migraines, effective April 30, 2026. The decision found that the Veteran's migraine headaches caused characteristic very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
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